Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

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

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading It was the question uppermost in Tom's mind, but he could not bring himself to ask it until his visitor was about to leave.

past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

later than; following

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

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

From this reading CONNE AND SEES THE BOYS START FOR THE FRONT "What--what do you think they'll do with him?"

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading It was the question uppermost in Tom's mind, but he could not bring himself to ask it until his visitor was about to leave.

for the reason that

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading CONNE AND SEES THE BOYS START FOR THE FRONT "What--what do you think they'll do with him?"

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading It was the question uppermost in Tom's mind, but he could not bring himself to ask it until his visitor was about to leave.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was the question uppermost in Tom's mind, but he could not bring himself to ask it until his visitor was about to leave.

as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

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

From this reading CONNE AND SEES THE BOYS START FOR THE FRONT "What--what do you think they'll do with him?"

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

From this reading It was the question uppermost in Tom's mind, but he could not bring himself to ask it until his visitor was about to leave.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading CONNE AND SEES THE BOYS START FOR THE FRONT "What--what do you think they'll do with him?"

qualified for by right according to law

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading CONNE AND SEES THE BOYS START FOR THE FRONT "What--what do you think they'll do with him?"

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading CONNE AND SEES THE BOYS START FOR THE FRONT "What--what do you think they'll do with him?"

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

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

From this reading HE TALKS WITH MR.

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

From this reading CONNE AND SEES THE BOYS START FOR THE FRONT "What--what do you think they'll do with him?"

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

From this reading It was the question uppermost in Tom's mind, but he could not bring himself to ask it until his visitor was about to leave.

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

From this reading It was the question uppermost in Tom's mind, but he could not bring himself to ask it until his visitor was about to leave.

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

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

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

From this reading It was the question uppermost in Tom's mind, but he could not bring himself to ask it until his visitor was about to leave.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was the question uppermost in Tom's mind, but he could not bring himself to ask it until his visitor was about to leave.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading But you must keep it very quiet.

showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

go away from a place

From this reading It was the question uppermost in Tom's mind, but he could not bring himself to ask it until his visitor was about to leave.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading It was the question uppermost in Tom's mind, but he could not bring himself to ask it until his visitor was about to leave.

possessive form of “moment” — a particular point in time

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

a form of address for a man

From this reading HE TALKS WITH MR.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading But you must keep it very quiet.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was the question uppermost in Tom's mind, but he could not bring himself to ask it until his visitor was about to leave.

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading It was the question uppermost in Tom's mind, but he could not bring himself to ask it until his visitor was about to leave.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading But you must keep it very quiet.

express in words

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

plural of “see” — the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located

From this reading CONNE AND SEES THE BOYS START FOR THE FRONT "What--what do you think they'll do with him?"

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading CONNE AND SEES THE BOYS START FOR THE FRONT "What--what do you think they'll do with him?"

(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

a discussion intended to produce an agreement

From this reading HE TALKS WITH MR.

express in words

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

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

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

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

From this reading CONNE AND SEES THE BOYS START FOR THE FRONT "What--what do you think they'll do with him?"

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

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

From this reading CONNE AND SEES THE BOYS START FOR THE FRONT "What--what do you think they'll do with him?"

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading CONNE AND SEES THE BOYS START FOR THE FRONT "What--what do you think they'll do with him?"

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

From this reading It was the question uppermost in Tom's mind, but he could not bring himself to ask it until his visitor was about to leave.

possessive form of “tom” — male cat

From this reading It was the question uppermost in Tom's mind, but he could not bring himself to ask it until his visitor was about to leave.

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

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

up to a particular time

From this reading It was the question uppermost in Tom's mind, but he could not bring himself to ask it until his visitor was about to leave.

at or nearest to the top

From this reading It was the question uppermost in Tom's mind, but he could not bring himself to ask it until his visitor was about to leave.

precisely as stated

From this reading But you must keep it very quiet.

someone who visits

From this reading It was the question uppermost in Tom's mind, but he could not bring himself to ask it until his visitor was about to leave.

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

From this reading It was the question uppermost in Tom's mind, but he could not bring himself to ask it until his visitor was about to leave.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading CONNE AND SEES THE BOYS START FOR THE FRONT "What--what do you think they'll do with him?"

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.

in the company of; together with

From this reading HE TALKS WITH MR.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading CONNE AND SEES THE BOYS START FOR THE FRONT "What--what do you think they'll do with him?"

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

From this reading "Why, that's hard to say, Tommy," Mr. Conne answered kindly but cautiously; then after a moment's silence he added, "I'll strain a point and tell you something because--well, because you're entitled to know.