Chapter II · Chapter 2

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

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

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

From this reading Three years before the meeting described in the previous chapter Sam Barker became an orphan, by the death of his father.

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

From this reading The father was an intemperate man, and no one grieved much for his death.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

someone who stands in front of a show (as at a carnival) and gives a loud colorful sales talk to potential customers

From this reading Three years before the meeting described in the previous chapter Sam Barker became an orphan, by the death of his father.

a container that is usually woven and has handles

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

the act of overcoming or outdoing

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Three years before the meeting described in the previous chapter Sam Barker became an orphan, by the death of his father.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Three years before the meeting described in the previous chapter Sam Barker became an orphan, by the death of his father.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Three years before the meeting described in the previous chapter Sam Barker became an orphan, by the death of his father.

a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled

From this reading Three years before the meeting described in the previous chapter Sam Barker became an orphan, by the death of his father.

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading Three years before the meeting described in the previous chapter Sam Barker became an orphan, by the death of his father.

represented in words especially with sharpness and detail

From this reading Three years before the meeting described in the previous chapter Sam Barker became an orphan, by the death of his father.

given to or marked by the consumption of alcohol

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading SAM'S EARLY LIFE.

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

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Three years before the meeting described in the previous chapter Sam Barker became an orphan, by the death of his father.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading Sam felt rather relieved than otherwise.

plural of “fit” — a display of bad temper

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The father was an intemperate man, and no one grieved much for his death.

bulky food like grass or hay for browsing or grazing horses or cattle

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

a feeling of intense anger

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

the act of acquiring something

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

past form of “grieve” — feel grief

From this reading The father was an intemperate man, and no one grieved much for his death.

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

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

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

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

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

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

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

From this reading Three years before the meeting described in the previous chapter Sam Barker became an orphan, by the death of his father.

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

From this reading Three years before the meeting described in the previous chapter Sam Barker became an orphan, by the death of his father.

(of weather or climate) not mild; subject to extremes

From this reading The father was an intemperate man, and no one grieved much for his death.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading SAM'S EARLY LIFE.

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

From this reading The father was an intemperate man, and no one grieved much for his death.

past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

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 He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

the food served and eaten at one time

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

a formally arranged gathering

From this reading Three years before the meeting described in the previous chapter Sam Barker became an orphan, by the death of his father.

used to form the superlative

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading The father was an intemperate man, and no one grieved much for his death.

a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

not any; not one

From this reading The father was an intemperate man, and no one grieved much for his death.

under a moral obligation to do something

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

held or filled or in use

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Three years before the meeting described in the previous chapter Sam Barker became an orphan, by the death of his father.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The father was an intemperate man, and no one grieved much for his death.

a child who has lost both parents

From this reading Three years before the meeting described in the previous chapter Sam Barker became an orphan, by the death of his father.

in other respects or ways

From this reading Sam felt rather relieved than otherwise.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

affording no ease or reassurance

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

just preceding something else in time or order

From this reading Three years before the meeting described in the previous chapter Sam Barker became an orphan, by the death of his father.

a stipulated condition

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

on the contrary

From this reading Sam felt rather relieved than otherwise.

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear

From this reading Sam felt rather relieved than otherwise.

a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target

From this reading Three years before the meeting described in the previous chapter Sam Barker became an orphan, by the death of his father.

possessive form of “sam” — a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target

From this reading SAM'S EARLY LIFE.

small crude shelter used as a dwelling

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

minimal (or marginal) resources for subsisting

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Sam felt rather relieved than otherwise.

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

From this reading Three years before the meeting described in the previous chapter Sam Barker became an orphan, by the death of his father.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading Three years before the meeting described in the previous chapter Sam Barker became an orphan, by the death of his father.

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

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

in deplorable condition

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

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

From this reading The father was an intemperate man, and no one grieved much for his death.

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

From this reading He had received many a beating from his father, in his fits of drunken fury, and had been obliged to forage for himself for the most part, getting a meal from one neighbor, a basket of provision from another, and so managed to eke out a precarious subsistence in the tumble-down shanty which he and his father occupied.

a late time of life

From this reading Three years before the meeting described in the previous chapter Sam Barker became an orphan, by the death of his father.