Chapter XX · Chapter 20

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

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

how long something has existed

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

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

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

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

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

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

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

in an audible manner

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

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

From this reading "I'm a human bramble bush," he said; "a few more of them and I'd be a nutmeg grater.

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

From this reading The stranger wore a plaid cap and a mackinaw jacket, the fuzzy texture of which was liberally besprinkled with burrs, which he was plucking off one by one, and throwing into the fire in great good humor.

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

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

any of various rough thorny shrubs or vines

From this reading "I'm a human bramble bush," he said; "a few more of them and I'd be a nutmeg grater.

rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

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

From this reading The stranger wore a plaid cap and a mackinaw jacket, the fuzzy texture of which was liberally besprinkled with burrs, which he was plucking off one by one, and throwing into the fire in great good humor.

a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading "I'm a human bramble bush," he said; "a few more of them and I'd be a nutmeg grater.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

a tight-fitting headdress

From this reading The stranger wore a plaid cap and a mackinaw jacket, the fuzzy texture of which was liberally besprinkled with burrs, which he was plucking off one by one, and throwing into the fire in great good humor.

suggestive of companionship

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

the act of examining resemblances

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

(of hair) having curls or waves

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

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

From this reading Moreover, his eyes sparkled with a kind of dancing recklessness, and there was a winning familiarity about him that took even stolid Tom quite by storm.

divisible by two

From this reading Moreover, his eyes sparkled with a kind of dancing recklessness, and there was a winning familiarity about him that took even stolid Tom quite by storm.

to an extreme degree

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

opinion or judgment

From this reading Moreover, his eyes sparkled with a kind of dancing recklessness, and there was a winning familiarity about him that took even stolid Tom quite by storm.

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

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

personal knowledge or information about someone or something

From this reading Moreover, his eyes sparkled with a kind of dancing recklessness, and there was a winning familiarity about him that took even stolid Tom quite by storm.

a boy or man

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading "I'm a human bramble bush," he said; "a few more of them and I'd be a nutmeg grater.

start firing a weapon

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

plural of “freckle” — a small brownish spot (of the pigment melanin) on the skin

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

covering with fine light hairs

From this reading The stranger wore a plaid cap and a mackinaw jacket, the fuzzy texture of which was liberally besprinkled with burrs, which he was plucking off one by one, and throwing into the fire in great good humor.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading The stranger wore a plaid cap and a mackinaw jacket, the fuzzy texture of which was liberally besprinkled with burrs, which he was plucking off one by one, and throwing into the fire in great good humor.

utensil with sharp perforations for shredding foods (as vegetables or cheese)

From this reading "I'm a human bramble bush," he said; "a few more of them and I'd be a nutmeg grater.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading The stranger wore a plaid cap and a mackinaw jacket, the fuzzy texture of which was liberally besprinkled with burrs, which he was plucking off one by one, and throwing into the fire in great good humor.

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

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

From this reading The stranger wore a plaid cap and a mackinaw jacket, the fuzzy texture of which was liberally besprinkled with burrs, which he was plucking off one by one, and throwing into the fire in great good humor.

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

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

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

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading "I'm a human bramble bush," he said; "a few more of them and I'd be a nutmeg grater.

a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter

From this reading The stranger wore a plaid cap and a mackinaw jacket, the fuzzy texture of which was liberally besprinkled with burrs, which he was plucking off one by one, and throwing into the fire in great good humor.

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

From this reading "I'm a human bramble bush," he said; "a few more of them and I'd be a nutmeg grater.

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

From this reading "I'm a human bramble bush," he said; "a few more of them and I'd be a nutmeg grater.

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

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The stranger wore a plaid cap and a mackinaw jacket, the fuzzy texture of which was liberally besprinkled with burrs, which he was plucking off one by one, and throwing into the fire in great good humor.

a short coat

From this reading The stranger wore a plaid cap and a mackinaw jacket, the fuzzy texture of which was liberally besprinkled with burrs, which he was plucking off one by one, and throwing into the fire in great good humor.

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

From this reading Moreover, his eyes sparkled with a kind of dancing recklessness, and there was a winning familiarity about him that took even stolid Tom quite by storm.

freely in a nonliteral manner

From this reading The stranger wore a plaid cap and a mackinaw jacket, the fuzzy texture of which was liberally besprinkled with burrs, which he was plucking off one by one, and throwing into the fire in great good humor.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

a short plaid coat made of made of thick woolen material

From this reading The stranger wore a plaid cap and a mackinaw jacket, the fuzzy texture of which was liberally besprinkled with burrs, which he was plucking off one by one, and throwing into the fire in great good humor.

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

From this reading "I'm a human bramble bush," he said; "a few more of them and I'd be a nutmeg grater.

in addition to what has just been said

From this reading Moreover, his eyes sparkled with a kind of dancing recklessness, and there was a winning familiarity about him that took even stolid Tom quite by storm.

a condition requiring relief

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

East Indian tree widely cultivated in the tropics for its aromatic seed; source of two spices: nutmeg and mace

From this reading "I'm a human bramble bush," he said; "a few more of them and I'd be a nutmeg grater.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

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

From this reading The stranger wore a plaid cap and a mackinaw jacket, the fuzzy texture of which was liberally besprinkled with burrs, which he was plucking off one by one, and throwing into the fire in great good humor.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The stranger wore a plaid cap and a mackinaw jacket, the fuzzy texture of which was liberally besprinkled with burrs, which he was plucking off one by one, and throwing into the fire in great good humor.

being directly across from each other; facing

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

breathing heavily (as after exertion)

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

a cloth having a crisscross design

From this reading The stranger wore a plaid cap and a mackinaw jacket, the fuzzy texture of which was liberally besprinkled with burrs, which he was plucking off one by one, and throwing into the fire in great good humor.

affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

-ing form of “pluck” — pull or pull out sharply

From this reading The stranger wore a plaid cap and a mackinaw jacket, the fuzzy texture of which was liberally besprinkled with burrs, which he was plucking off one by one, and throwing into the fire in great good humor.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading Moreover, his eyes sparkled with a kind of dancing recklessness, and there was a winning familiarity about him that took even stolid Tom quite by storm.

the trait of giving little thought to danger

From this reading Moreover, his eyes sparkled with a kind of dancing recklessness, and there was a winning familiarity about him that took even stolid Tom quite by storm.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "I'm a human bramble bush," he said; "a few more of them and I'd be a nutmeg grater.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

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

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

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

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

past form of “sparkle” — reflect brightly

From this reading Moreover, his eyes sparkled with a kind of dancing recklessness, and there was a winning familiarity about him that took even stolid Tom quite by storm.

having a supporting base

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; not easily aroused or excited

From this reading Moreover, his eyes sparkled with a kind of dancing recklessness, and there was a winning familiarity about him that took even stolid Tom quite by storm.

behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

From this reading Moreover, his eyes sparkled with a kind of dancing recklessness, and there was a winning familiarity about him that took even stolid Tom quite by storm.

anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading The stranger wore a plaid cap and a mackinaw jacket, the fuzzy texture of which was liberally besprinkled with burrs, which he was plucking off one by one, and throwing into the fire in great good humor.

the feel of a surface or a fabric

From this reading The stranger wore a plaid cap and a mackinaw jacket, the fuzzy texture of which was liberally besprinkled with burrs, which he was plucking off one by one, and throwing into the fire in great good humor.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

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

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading "I'm a human bramble bush," he said; "a few more of them and I'd be a nutmeg grater.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Moreover, his eyes sparkled with a kind of dancing recklessness, and there was a winning familiarity about him that took even stolid Tom quite by storm.

not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air

From this reading The stranger wore a plaid cap and a mackinaw jacket, the fuzzy texture of which was liberally besprinkled with burrs, which he was plucking off one by one, and throwing into the fire in great good humor.

male cat

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading Moreover, his eyes sparkled with a kind of dancing recklessness, and there was a winning familiarity about him that took even stolid Tom quite by storm.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

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

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

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

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

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

From this reading The stranger wore a plaid cap and a mackinaw jacket, the fuzzy texture of which was liberally besprinkled with burrs, which he was plucking off one by one, and throwing into the fire in great good humor.

having won

From this reading Moreover, his eyes sparkled with a kind of dancing recklessness, and there was a winning familiarity about him that took even stolid Tom quite by storm.

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.

inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in

From this reading The stranger wore a plaid cap and a mackinaw jacket, the fuzzy texture of which was liberally besprinkled with burrs, which he was plucking off one by one, and throwing into the fire in great good humor.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading In the light of the fire, Tom could see that his curly hair was so red that a brick would have seemed blue by comparison, and the freckles were as thick upon his pleasant face as stars in the quiet sky.

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

From this reading THE FRIEND IN NEED Standing on the opposite side of the fire was a young fellow of about his own age, panting audibly, and smiling at him with an exceedingly companionable smile.