Chapter II

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

From this reading “No--but she will to-morrow,” prophesied Timothy, with only a writer’s intuition.

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

From this reading Ah, well!

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

From this reading “She hasn’t congratulated you yet,” murmured the stepmother, gazing at Timothy with quite an unstepmotherly gaze.

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

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading “She hasn’t congratulated you yet,” murmured the stepmother, gazing at Timothy with quite an unstepmotherly gaze.

a line of approach

From this reading * * * * * The two short, blue-coated figures moved off briskly down the street toward the Avenue.

a small piece or quantity of something

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

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

From this reading * * * * * The two short, blue-coated figures moved off briskly down the street toward the Avenue.

befitting or characteristic of a young boy

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

in a brisk manner

From this reading * * * * * The two short, blue-coated figures moved off briskly down the street toward the Avenue.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “No--but she will to-morrow,” prophesied Timothy, with only a writer’s intuition.

plural of “coat” — an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

past form of “congratulate” — say something to someone that expresses praise

From this reading “She hasn’t congratulated you yet,” murmured the stepmother, gazing at Timothy with quite an unstepmotherly gaze.

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

of someone whose marriage has been legally dissolved

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading * * * * * The two short, blue-coated figures moved off briskly down the street toward the Avenue.

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

having ones attention or mind or energy engaged

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading * * * * * The two short, blue-coated figures moved off briskly down the street toward the Avenue.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

arousing or provoking laughter

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

a long fixed look

From this reading “She hasn’t congratulated you yet,” murmured the stepmother, gazing at Timothy with quite an unstepmotherly gaze.

-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes

From this reading “She hasn’t congratulated you yet,” murmured the stepmother, gazing at Timothy with quite an unstepmotherly gaze.

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

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

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

From this reading “She hasn’t congratulated you yet,” murmured the stepmother, gazing at Timothy with quite an unstepmotherly gaze.

exactly alike; incapable of being perceived as different

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

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

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

instinctive knowing (without the use of rational processes)

From this reading “No--but she will to-morrow,” prophesied Timothy, with only a writer’s intuition.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

drawn out or made longer spatially

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

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

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

joined in matrimony

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion

From this reading * * * * * The two short, blue-coated figures moved off briskly down the street toward the Avenue.

past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly

From this reading “She hasn’t congratulated you yet,” murmured the stepmother, gazing at Timothy with quite an unstepmotherly gaze.

not any; not one

From this reading “No--but she will to-morrow,” prophesied Timothy, with only a writer’s intuition.

the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

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

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

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

From this reading * * * * * The two short, blue-coated figures moved off briskly down the street toward the Avenue.

and nothing more

From this reading “No--but she will to-morrow,” prophesied Timothy, with only a writer’s intuition.

a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

inflected form of “prophesy” — predict or reveal through, or as if through, divine inspiration

From this reading “No--but she will to-morrow,” prophesied Timothy, with only a writer’s intuition.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading “She hasn’t congratulated you yet,” murmured the stepmother, gazing at Timothy with quite an unstepmotherly gaze.

Identical; not different.

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

an educational institution

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “She hasn’t congratulated you yet,” murmured the stepmother, gazing at Timothy with quite an unstepmotherly gaze.

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

From this reading * * * * * The two short, blue-coated figures moved off briskly down the street toward the Avenue.

plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

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

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

the wife of your father by a subsequent marriage

From this reading “She hasn’t congratulated you yet,” murmured the stepmother, gazing at Timothy with quite an unstepmotherly gaze.

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

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading * * * * * The two short, blue-coated figures moved off briskly down the street toward the Avenue.

a step in walking or running

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

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

From this reading “She hasn’t congratulated you yet,” murmured the stepmother, gazing at Timothy with quite an unstepmotherly gaze.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

grass with long cylindrical spikes grown in northern United States and Europe for hay

From this reading “She hasn’t congratulated you yet,” murmured the stepmother, gazing at Timothy with quite an unstepmotherly gaze.

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

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

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

From this reading “No--but she will to-morrow,” prophesied Timothy, with only a writer’s intuition.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

in the direction of

From this reading * * * * * The two short, blue-coated figures moved off briskly down the street toward the Avenue.

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

From this reading * * * * * The two short, blue-coated figures moved off briskly down the street toward the Avenue.

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

From this reading “She hasn’t congratulated you yet,” murmured the stepmother, gazing at Timothy with quite an unstepmotherly gaze.

precisely as stated

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

past form of “watch” — look attentively

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

(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 Ah, well!

during the time that

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading “No--but she will to-morrow,” prophesied Timothy, with only a writer’s intuition.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

in the company of; together with

From this reading “She hasn’t congratulated you yet,” murmured the stepmother, gazing at Timothy with quite an unstepmotherly gaze.

marked by wrinkles

From this reading From the window, the stepmother smiled at the identical cut of their shoulders, the boyish, easy swing of their same stride; it seemed such a very little while since she had watched them start off every day to school together--the blue coats had lengthened such a little bit--and now---- Timothy engaged, and Patsy married--married and half divorced; the stepmother’s nose wrinkled in a funny smile.

possessive form of “writer” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading “No--but she will to-morrow,” prophesied Timothy, with only a writer’s intuition.

but in spite of that

From this reading “She hasn’t congratulated you yet,” murmured the stepmother, gazing at Timothy with quite an unstepmotherly gaze.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “She hasn’t congratulated you yet,” murmured the stepmother, gazing at Timothy with quite an unstepmotherly gaze.