Chapter II

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

From this reading TOMMY MOVES AWAY “Why, ma, what’s the matter?” cried Tommy, bursting into the house a little later.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

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

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading Well might he ask, for the house, that was usually in such trim order, was now in confusion.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading TOMMY MOVES AWAY “Why, ma, what’s the matter?” cried Tommy, bursting into the house a little later.

the amount that many barrels might hold

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

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

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

-ing form of “burst” — come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure

From this reading TOMMY MOVES AWAY “Why, ma, what’s the matter?” cried Tommy, bursting into the house a little later.

plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably

From this reading Well might he ask, for the house, that was usually in such trim order, was now in confusion.

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading TOMMY MOVES AWAY “Why, ma, what’s the matter?” cried Tommy, bursting into the house a little later.

plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

start firing a weapon

From this reading Was there a fire?”

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

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Well might he ask, for the house, that was usually in such trim order, was now in confusion.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading “What has happened?

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

From this reading “What has happened?

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

From this reading Well might he ask, for the house, that was usually in such trim order, was now in confusion.

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

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading TOMMY MOVES AWAY “Why, ma, what’s the matter?” cried Tommy, bursting into the house a little later.

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

From this reading Well might he ask, for the house, that was usually in such trim order, was now in confusion.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading TOMMY MOVES AWAY “Why, ma, what’s the matter?” cried Tommy, bursting into the house a little later.

a room equipped for preparing meals

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading TOMMY MOVES AWAY “Why, ma, what’s the matter?” cried Tommy, bursting into the house a little later.

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

From this reading TOMMY MOVES AWAY “Why, ma, what’s the matter?” cried Tommy, bursting into the house a little later.

informal terms for a mother

From this reading TOMMY MOVES AWAY “Why, ma, what’s the matter?” cried Tommy, bursting into the house a little later.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading TOMMY MOVES AWAY “Why, ma, what’s the matter?” cried Tommy, bursting into the house a little later.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Well might he ask, for the house, that was usually in such trim order, was now in confusion.

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

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

plural of “move” — the act of deciding to do something

From this reading TOMMY MOVES AWAY “Why, ma, what’s the matter?” cried Tommy, bursting into the house a little later.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

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

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

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

From this reading Well might he ask, for the house, that was usually in such trim order, was now in confusion.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading Well might he ask, for the house, that was usually in such trim order, was now in confusion.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

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

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Well might he ask, for the house, that was usually in such trim order, was now in confusion.

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Well might he ask, for the house, that was usually in such trim order, was now in confusion.

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

From this reading TOMMY MOVES AWAY “Why, ma, what’s the matter?” cried Tommy, bursting into the house a little later.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Was there a fire?”

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

From this reading TOMMY MOVES AWAY “Why, ma, what’s the matter?” cried Tommy, bursting into the house a little later.

remove the edges from and cut down to the desired size

From this reading Well might he ask, for the house, that was usually in such trim order, was now in confusion.

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

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

under normal conditions

From this reading Well might he ask, for the house, that was usually in such trim order, was now in confusion.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

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

From this reading Was there a fire?”

a working woman who takes in washing

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

(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 Well might he ask, for the house, that was usually in such trim order, was now in confusion.

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

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “What has happened?

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

From this reading TOMMY MOVES AWAY “Why, ma, what’s the matter?” cried Tommy, bursting into the house a little later.

during the time that

From this reading The chairs were scattered about, and his mother was up on a step-ladder taking down the pictures from the wall, while out in the kitchen Mrs. Norah Flannigan, the washerwoman, was doing up dishes in pieces of newspaper and putting them in barrels and boxes.

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

From this reading TOMMY MOVES AWAY “Why, ma, what’s the matter?” cried Tommy, bursting into the house a little later.