Chapter XII

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

From this reading THE LEAVE-TAKING “_All ‘Tommy Smith’s Animals’ take leave with joy_, _For they know Tommy Smith is a different boy_.”

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Then all the animals began to tell each other about the conversations they had had with Tommy Smith, and what a very much better boy he had become.

anew

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading THE LEAVE-TAKING “_All ‘Tommy Smith’s Animals’ take leave with joy_, _For they know Tommy Smith is a different boy_.”

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

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading THE LEAVE-TAKING “_All ‘Tommy Smith’s Animals’ take leave with joy_, _For they know Tommy Smith is a different boy_.”

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

disposed or placed in a particular kind of order

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

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

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

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

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

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

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

for the reason that

From this reading They were all so glad; and, of course, they all thanked the owl, because it had been his idea.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Then all the animals began to tell each other about the conversations they had had with Tommy Smith, and what a very much better boy he had become.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

earlier than; in front of

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Then all the animals began to tell each other about the conversations they had had with Tommy Smith, and what a very much better boy he had become.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading Then all the animals began to tell each other about the conversations they had had with Tommy Smith, and what a very much better boy he had become.

a youthful male person

From this reading THE LEAVE-TAKING “_All ‘Tommy Smith’s Animals’ take leave with joy_, _For they know Tommy Smith is a different boy_.”

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

plural of “conversation” — the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.

From this reading Then all the animals began to tell each other about the conversations they had had with Tommy Smith, and what a very much better boy he had become.

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

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

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

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading THE LEAVE-TAKING “_All ‘Tommy Smith’s Animals’ take leave with joy_, _For they know Tommy Smith is a different boy_.”

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Then all the animals began to tell each other about the conversations they had had with Tommy Smith, and what a very much better boy he had become.

inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE LEAVE-TAKING “_All ‘Tommy Smith’s Animals’ take leave with joy_, _For they know Tommy Smith is a different boy_.”

set up or found

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy

From this reading They were all so glad; and, of course, they all thanked the owl, because it had been his idea.

destroyed or killed

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

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

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

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

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

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

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

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

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

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

From this reading They were all so glad; and, of course, they all thanked the owl, because it had been his idea.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading They were all so glad; and, of course, they all thanked the owl, because it had been his idea.

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

From this reading THE LEAVE-TAKING “_All ‘Tommy Smith’s Animals’ take leave with joy_, _For they know Tommy Smith is a different boy_.”

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

the emotion of great happiness

From this reading THE LEAVE-TAKING “_All ‘Tommy Smith’s Animals’ take leave with joy_, _For they know Tommy Smith is a different boy_.”

and nothing more

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

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

From this reading THE LEAVE-TAKING “_All ‘Tommy Smith’s Animals’ take leave with joy_, _For they know Tommy Smith is a different boy_.”

go away from a place

From this reading THE LEAVE-TAKING “_All ‘Tommy Smith’s Animals’ take leave with joy_, _For they know Tommy Smith is a different boy_.”

the act of departing politely

From this reading THE LEAVE-TAKING “_All ‘Tommy Smith’s Animals’ take leave with joy_, _For they know Tommy Smith is a different boy_.”

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Then all the animals began to tell each other about the conversations they had had with Tommy Smith, and what a very much better boy he had become.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

full of or giving praise

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

Identical; not different.

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)

From this reading THE LEAVE-TAKING “_All ‘Tommy Smith’s Animals’ take leave with joy_, _For they know Tommy Smith is a different boy_.”

possessive form of “smith” — Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)

From this reading THE LEAVE-TAKING “_All ‘Tommy Smith’s Animals’ take leave with joy_, _For they know Tommy Smith is a different boy_.”

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading They were all so glad; and, of course, they all thanked the owl, because it had been his idea.

carry out

From this reading THE LEAVE-TAKING “_All ‘Tommy Smith’s Animals’ take leave with joy_, _For they know Tommy Smith is a different boy_.”

express in words

From this reading Then all the animals began to tell each other about the conversations they had had with Tommy Smith, and what a very much better boy he had become.

past form of “thank” — express gratitude or show appreciation to

From this reading They were all so glad; and, of course, they all thanked the owl, because it had been his idea.

-ing form of “thank” — express gratitude or show appreciation to

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

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

From this reading THE LEAVE-TAKING “_All ‘Tommy Smith’s Animals’ take leave with joy_, _For they know Tommy Smith is a different boy_.”

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then all the animals began to tell each other about the conversations they had had with Tommy Smith, and what a very much better boy he had become.

in or at that place or location

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading THE LEAVE-TAKING “_All ‘Tommy Smith’s Animals’ take leave with joy_, _For they know Tommy Smith is a different boy_.”

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

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

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

From this reading THE LEAVE-TAKING “_All ‘Tommy Smith’s Animals’ take leave with joy_, _For they know Tommy Smith is a different boy_.”

precisely as stated

From this reading Then all the animals began to tell each other about the conversations they had had with Tommy Smith, and what a very much better boy he had become.

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

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

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

(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 Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

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

From this reading They were all so glad; and, of course, they all thanked the owl, because it had been his idea.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Then all the animals began to tell each other about the conversations they had had with Tommy Smith, and what a very much better boy he had become.

at the time that

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

in or at the place that

From this reading WHEN Tommy Smith had gone to sleep, the owl flew away, and he flew to the same place where he had met the other animals before, and found them all there again waiting for him (of course, it had been arranged).

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

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE LEAVE-TAKING “_All ‘Tommy Smith’s Animals’ take leave with joy_, _For they know Tommy Smith is a different boy_.”

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

From this reading Then the owl thanked all the animals for thanking _him_, and he said that it _was_ his idea, but that it might just as well have been the idea of any other animal there, and he wished that it _had_ been, because, _then_, he could have called it clever, but _now_, of course, he couldn’t, for _that_ would be praising himself,—which would _never_ do.