Chapter II

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

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

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

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

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

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

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

From this reading One day, Ilya found a big silver spoon in a drain, and the old man bought him half a pound of ginger bread for it.

a substance used to produce a shiny protective surface on footwear

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction

From this reading One day, Ilya found a big silver spoon in a drain, and the old man bought him half a pound of ginger bread for it.

plural of “box” — a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

an alloy of copper and zinc

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

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

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked

From this reading One day, Ilya found a big silver spoon in a drain, and the old man bought him half a pound of ginger bread for it.

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

a hole made by an animal, usually for shelter

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

a holder with sockets for candles

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading Then once he dug out a little purse covered with green mould, with more than a rouble in money inside it.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading One day, Ilya found a big silver spoon in a drain, and the old man bought him half a pound of ginger bread for it.

flow off gradually

From this reading One day, Ilya found a big silver spoon in a drain, and the old man bought him half a pound of ginger bread for it.

an udder or breast or teat

From this reading Then once he dug out a little purse covered with green mould, with more than a rouble in money inside it.

remove the dust from

From this reading He helped the old man zealously to rummage in the dust heaps.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

creating or arousing excitement

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading One day, Ilya found a big silver spoon in a drain, and the old man bought him half a pound of ginger bread for it.

plural of “fork” — cutlery used for serving and eating food

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

at a previous time

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

set up or found

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

perennial plants having thick branching aromatic rhizomes and leafy reedlike stems

From this reading One day, Ilya found a big silver spoon in a drain, and the old man bought him half a pound of ginger bread for it.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading Then once he dug out a little purse covered with green mould, with more than a rouble in money inside it.

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

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading One day, Ilya found a big silver spoon in a drain, and the old man bought him half a pound of ginger bread for it.

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

From this reading He helped the old man zealously to rummage in the dust heaps.

a large number or amount

From this reading He helped the old man zealously to rummage in the dust heaps.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading He helped the old man zealously to rummage in the dust heaps.

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

From this reading One day, Ilya found a big silver spoon in a drain, and the old man bought him half a pound of ginger bread for it.

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

From this reading One day, Ilya found a big silver spoon in a drain, and the old man bought him half a pound of ginger bread for it.

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

From this reading He helped the old man zealously to rummage in the dust heaps.

relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

From this reading Then once he dug out a little purse covered with green mould, with more than a rouble in money inside it.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

the emotion of great happiness

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

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

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

plural of “knife” — edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

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

From this reading Then once he dug out a little purse covered with green mould, with more than a rouble in money inside it.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

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

From this reading He helped the old man zealously to rummage in the dust heaps.

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender

From this reading Then once he dug out a little purse covered with green mould, with more than a rouble in money inside it.

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

From this reading Then once he dug out a little purse covered with green mould, with more than a rouble in money inside it.

used to form the superlative

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

form in clay, wax, etc

From this reading Then once he dug out a little purse covered with green mould, with more than a rouble in money inside it.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

many times at short intervals

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

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

From this reading He helped the old man zealously to rummage in the dust heaps.

on one occasion

From this reading Then once he dug out a little purse covered with green mould, with more than a rouble in money inside it.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One day, Ilya found a big silver spoon in a drain, and the old man bought him half a pound of ginger bread for it.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Then once he dug out a little purse covered with green mould, with more than a rouble in money inside it.

(used of foods) preserved in a pickling liquid

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

hit hard with the hand, fist, or some heavy instrument

From this reading One day, Ilya found a big silver spoon in a drain, and the old man bought him half a pound of ginger bread for it.

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

a container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women)

From this reading Then once he dug out a little purse covered with green mould, with more than a rouble in money inside it.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

show unwillingness towards

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

gymnastic apparatus consisting of a pair of heavy metal circles (usually covered with leather) suspended by ropes; used for gymnastic exercises

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

the basic unit of money in Russia

From this reading Then once he dug out a little purse covered with green mould, with more than a rouble in money inside it.

worthless material that is to be disposed of

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

search haphazardly

From this reading He helped the old man zealously to rummage in the dust heaps.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading One day, Ilya found a big silver spoon in a drain, and the old man bought him half a pound of ginger bread for it.

in a special manner

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

a piece of cutlery with a shallow bowl-shaped container and a handle; used to stir or serve or take up food

From this reading One day, Ilya found a big silver spoon in a drain, and the old man bought him half a pound of ginger bread for it.

put, fix, force, or implant

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Then once he dug out a little purse covered with green mould, with more than a rouble in money inside it.

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

From this reading He helped the old man zealously to rummage in the dust heaps.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then once he dug out a little purse covered with green mould, with more than a rouble in money inside it.

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

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

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

From this reading He helped the old man zealously to rummage in the dust heaps.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

not injured physically or mentally

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

(of weapons) not charged with ammunition

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

not usual or common or ordinary

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

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

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

at the time that

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

in or at the place that

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

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

From this reading More often he found knives, forks, metal rings, broken brasswork, pretty tin boxes--formerly full of blacking or pickled fish--and once, in the valley where the refuse of the whole town was unloaded, he grubbed out a heavy brass candlestick quite uninjured.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He found it most exciting to burrow into these heaps of every kind of rubbish with a stick, and specially pleasant to see the old man's joy when he made an unusual find among the rubbish.

in a zealous manner

From this reading He helped the old man zealously to rummage in the dust heaps.