Chapter IV

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

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

moving quickly and lightly

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

(of a current) reversing direction

From this reading It was into this haven that Tom was born; there he grew up, alternating between the chronic high spirits of his father and the chronic low ones of his mother, and being, on the whole, healthy and well-fed and contented.

serving or used in place of another

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

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

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

the descendants of one individual

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

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

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

separated or at a distance in place or position or time

From this reading & O., was, like most other human beings, subject to fluctuations of temper; only, with Tom, the extremes were much farther apart than usual.

characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

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

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

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

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading It was into this haven that Tom was born; there he grew up, alternating between the chronic high spirits of his father and the chronic low ones of his mother, and being, on the whole, healthy and well-fed and contented.

plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing

From this reading & O., was, like most other human beings, subject to fluctuations of temper; only, with Tom, the extremes were much farther apart than usual.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading It was into this haven that Tom was born; there he grew up, alternating between the chronic high spirits of his father and the chronic low ones of his mother, and being, on the whole, healthy and well-fed and contented.

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

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

brought into existence

From this reading It was into this haven that Tom was born; there he grew up, alternating between the chronic high spirits of his father and the chronic low ones of his mother, and being, on the whole, healthy and well-fed and contented.

a person who exercises control over workers

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

a youthful male person

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

a person who is in charge

From this reading THE YOUNG OPERATORS Tom Mickey, chief lineman of the Ohio division of the P.

being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering

From this reading It was into this haven that Tom was born; there he grew up, alternating between the chronic high spirits of his father and the chronic low ones of his mother, and being, on the whole, healthy and well-fed and contented.

providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

carefully weighed

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

satisfied or showing satisfaction with things as they are

From this reading It was into this haven that Tom was born; there he grew up, alternating between the chronic high spirits of his father and the chronic low ones of his mother, and being, on the whole, healthy and well-fed and contented.

someone who pays for goods or services

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

an army unit large enough to sustain combat

From this reading THE YOUNG OPERATORS Tom Mickey, chief lineman of the Ohio division of the P.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

owed and payable immediately or on demand

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

gained or acquired; especially through merit or as a result of effort or action

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

plural of “extreme” — the furthest or highest degree of something

From this reading & O., was, like most other human beings, subject to fluctuations of temper; only, with Tom, the extremes were much farther apart than usual.

more distant in especially space or time

From this reading & O., was, like most other human beings, subject to fluctuations of temper; only, with Tom, the extremes were much farther apart than usual.

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

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

plural of “fluctuation” — a wave motion

From this reading & O., was, like most other human beings, subject to fluctuations of temper; only, with Tom, the extremes were much farther apart than usual.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

set up or found

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

a person of German nationality

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading It was into this haven that Tom was born; there he grew up, alternating between the chronic high spirits of his father and the chronic low ones of his mother, and being, on the whole, healthy and well-fed and contented.

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

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

a shelter serving as a place of safety or sanctuary

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

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

From this reading It was into this haven that Tom was born; there he grew up, alternating between the chronic high spirits of his father and the chronic low ones of his mother, and being, on the whole, healthy and well-fed and contented.

having or indicating good health in body or mind; free from infirmity or disease

From this reading It was into this haven that Tom was born; there he grew up, alternating between the chronic high spirits of his father and the chronic low ones of his mother, and being, on the whole, healthy and well-fed and contented.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading It was into this haven that Tom was born; there he grew up, alternating between the chronic high spirits of his father and the chronic low ones of his mother, and being, on the whole, healthy and well-fed and contented.

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

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

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

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading & O., was, like most other human beings, subject to fluctuations of temper; only, with Tom, the extremes were much farther apart than usual.

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

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading It was into this haven that Tom was born; there he grew up, alternating between the chronic high spirits of his father and the chronic low ones of his mother, and being, on the whole, healthy and well-fed and contented.

a man who is a native or inhabitant of Ireland

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was into this haven that Tom was born; there he grew up, alternating between the chronic high spirits of his father and the chronic low ones of his mother, and being, on the whole, healthy and well-fed and contented.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading & O., was, like most other human beings, subject to fluctuations of temper; only, with Tom, the extremes were much farther apart than usual.

one of the players on the line of scrimmage

From this reading THE YOUNG OPERATORS Tom Mickey, chief lineman of the Ohio division of the P.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading It was into this haven that Tom was born; there he grew up, alternating between the chronic high spirits of his father and the chronic low ones of his mother, and being, on the whole, healthy and well-fed and contented.

joined in matrimony

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

being nothing more than specified

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

(ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Irish descent

From this reading THE YOUNG OPERATORS Tom Mickey, chief lineman of the Ohio division of the P.

consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

any of various long-tailed primates (excluding the prosimians)

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

used to form the superlative

From this reading & O., was, like most other human beings, subject to fluctuations of temper; only, with Tom, the extremes were much farther apart than usual.

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

From this reading It was into this haven that Tom was born; there he grew up, alternating between the chronic high spirits of his father and the chronic low ones of his mother, and being, on the whole, healthy and well-fed and contented.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading & O., was, like most other human beings, subject to fluctuations of temper; only, with Tom, the extremes were much farther apart than usual.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

not any; not one

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading & O., was, like most other human beings, subject to fluctuations of temper; only, with Tom, the extremes were much farther apart than usual.

causing disapproval or protest

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

sporadically and infrequently

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE YOUNG OPERATORS Tom Mickey, chief lineman of the Ohio division of the P.

past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading THE YOUNG OPERATORS Tom Mickey, chief lineman of the Ohio division of the P.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was into this haven that Tom was born; there he grew up, alternating between the chronic high spirits of his father and the chronic low ones of his mother, and being, on the whole, healthy and well-fed and contented.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading It was into this haven that Tom was born; there he grew up, alternating between the chronic high spirits of his father and the chronic low ones of his mother, and being, on the whole, healthy and well-fed and contented.

and nothing more

From this reading & O., was, like most other human beings, subject to fluctuations of temper; only, with Tom, the extremes were much farther apart than usual.

plural of “operator” — (mathematics) a symbol or function representing a mathematical operation

From this reading THE YOUNG OPERATORS Tom Mickey, chief lineman of the Ohio division of the P.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading & O., was, like most other human beings, subject to fluctuations of temper; only, with Tom, the extremes were much farther apart than usual.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms

From this reading THE YOUNG OPERATORS Tom Mickey, chief lineman of the Ohio division of the P.

by chance

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

showing little emotion

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

plural of “pole” — a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

inflected form of “prefer” — like better; value more highly

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

a woman proprietor

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

free of extraneous elements of any kind

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

on the contrary

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

free from danger or the risk of harm

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

an educational institution

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

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

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

in the near future

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented

From this reading It was into this haven that Tom was born; there he grew up, alternating between the chronic high spirits of his father and the chronic low ones of his mother, and being, on the whole, healthy and well-fed and contented.

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading & O., was, like most other human beings, subject to fluctuations of temper; only, with Tom, the extremes were much farther apart than usual.

a sudden outburst of anger

From this reading & O., was, like most other human beings, subject to fluctuations of temper; only, with Tom, the extremes were much farther apart than usual.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading & O., was, like most other human beings, subject to fluctuations of temper; only, with Tom, the extremes were much farther apart than usual.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

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

From this reading THE YOUNG OPERATORS Tom Mickey, chief lineman of the Ohio division of the P.

in or at that place or location

From this reading It was into this haven that Tom was born; there he grew up, alternating between the chronic high spirits of his father and the chronic low ones of his mother, and being, on the whole, healthy and well-fed and contented.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

a sound defeat

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

propel through the air

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

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

From this reading & O., was, like most other human beings, subject to fluctuations of temper; only, with Tom, the extremes were much farther apart than usual.

male cat

From this reading THE YOUNG OPERATORS Tom Mickey, chief lineman of the Ohio division of the P.

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

From this reading It was into this haven that Tom was born; there he grew up, alternating between the chronic high spirits of his father and the chronic low ones of his mother, and being, on the whole, healthy and well-fed and contented.

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading & O., was, like most other human beings, subject to fluctuations of temper; only, with Tom, the extremes were much farther apart than usual.

evaporating readily at normal temperatures and pressures

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

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

From this reading & O., was, like most other human beings, subject to fluctuations of temper; only, with Tom, the extremes were much farther apart than usual.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

properly nourished

From this reading It was into this haven that Tom was born; there he grew up, alternating between the chronic high spirits of his father and the chronic low ones of his mother, and being, on the whole, healthy and well-fed and contented.

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

From this reading & O., was, like most other human beings, subject to fluctuations of temper; only, with Tom, the extremes were much farther apart than usual.

in or at the place that

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

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

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

during the time that

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

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

From this reading It was into this haven that Tom was born; there he grew up, alternating between the chronic high spirits of his father and the chronic low ones of his mother, and being, on the whole, healthy and well-fed and contented.

plural of “wire” — ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

in the company of; together with

From this reading & O., was, like most other human beings, subject to fluctuations of temper; only, with Tom, the extremes were much farther apart than usual.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading This was due, perhaps, to his mixed ancestry, for his father, a volatile Irishman, had married a phlegmatic German woman, proprietress of a railroad boarding-house, where Mickey found a safe and comfortable haven, with no more arduous work to do than to throw out occasionally some objectionable customer--and Mickey never considered that as work, but as recreation pure and simple.

but in spite of that

From this reading He had entered the service of the road while yet a mere boy, preferring to go to work rather than to school, which was the only alternative offered him; and he soon became an expert lineman, running up and down the poles as agile as a monkey and dancing out along the wires in a way that earned him more than one thrashing from his boss.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading THE YOUNG OPERATORS Tom Mickey, chief lineman of the Ohio division of the P.