Chapter XXIII

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

From this reading Old John lived up towards the Barbican, in as neat a cottage as you could find in Draeth.

Having no one else present.

From this reading He had given up sailorin' then and turned fisherman, because he wouldn't leave his bonny little maid so much alone.

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

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

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

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

any thing at all

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

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

From this reading Old John lived up towards the Barbican, in as neat a cottage as you could find in Draeth.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

a tower that is part of a defensive structure (such as a castle)

From this reading Old John lived up towards the Barbican, in as neat a cottage as you could find in Draeth.

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

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

for the reason that

From this reading He had given up sailorin' then and turned fisherman, because he wouldn't leave his bonny little maid so much alone.

very pleasing to the eye

From this reading He had given up sailorin' then and turned fisherman, because he wouldn't leave his bonny little maid so much alone.

small room on a ship or boat where people sleep

From this reading It was not until Old John was getting on in years that he had married and set up a cabin of his own.

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading On the day of Granny's funeral Old John took care of Tommy.

past form of “clean” — make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

a small house with a single story

From this reading Old John lived up towards the Barbican, in as neat a cottage as you could find in Draeth.

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

From this reading Old John lived up towards the Barbican, in as neat a cottage as you could find in Draeth.

baby bed with high sides made of slats

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading On the day of Granny's funeral Old John took care of Tommy.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

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

From this reading Old John lived up towards the Barbican, in as neat a cottage as you could find in Draeth.

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

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

take in solid food

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

at any time

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading Old John lived up towards the Barbican, in as neat a cottage as you could find in Draeth.

someone whose occupation is catching fish

From this reading He had given up sailorin' then and turned fisherman, because he wouldn't leave his bonny little maid so much alone.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated

From this reading On the day of Granny's funeral Old John took care of Tommy.

the act of acquiring something

From this reading It was not until Old John was getting on in years that he had married and set up a cabin of his own.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading He had given up sailorin' then and turned fisherman, because he wouldn't leave his bonny little maid so much alone.

in a willing manner

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

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

From this reading On the day of Granny's funeral Old John took care of Tommy.

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

From this reading It was not until Old John was getting on in years that he had married and set up a cabin of his own.

possessive form of “hand” — the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

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

From this reading It was not until Old John was getting on in years that he had married and set up a cabin of his own.

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

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

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

From this reading Old John lived up towards the Barbican, in as neat a cottage as you could find in Draeth.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading On the day of Granny's funeral Old John took care of Tommy.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

go away from a place

From this reading He had given up sailorin' then and turned fisherman, because he wouldn't leave his bonny little maid so much alone.

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

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading Old John lived up towards the Barbican, in as neat a cottage as you could find in Draeth.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

a female domestic

From this reading He had given up sailorin' then and turned fisherman, because he wouldn't leave his bonny little maid so much alone.

joined in matrimony

From this reading It was not until Old John was getting on in years that he had married and set up a cabin of his own.

past form of “mend” — restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading He had given up sailorin' then and turned fisherman, because he wouldn't leave his bonny little maid so much alone.

clean or organized

From this reading Old John lived up towards the Barbican, in as neat a cottage as you could find in Draeth.

not any; not one

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was not until Old John was getting on in years that he had married and set up a cabin of his own.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading On the day of Granny's funeral Old John took care of Tommy.

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

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

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

From this reading On the day of Granny's funeral Old John took care of Tommy.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the day of Granny's funeral Old John took care of Tommy.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading It was not until Old John was getting on in years that he had married and set up a cabin of his own.

capable of happening or existing

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

past form of “remark” — make mention of

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

any member of a ship's crew

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

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

From this reading He had given up sailorin' then and turned fisherman, because he wouldn't leave his bonny little maid so much alone.

made clean by scrubbing

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading It was not until Old John was getting on in years that he had married and set up a cabin of his own.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

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

From this reading On the day of Granny's funeral Old John took care of Tommy.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading He had given up sailorin' then and turned fisherman, because he wouldn't leave his bonny little maid so much alone.

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

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

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

From this reading On the day of Granny's funeral Old John took care of Tommy.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading On the day of Granny's funeral Old John took care of Tommy.

in the direction of

From this reading Old John lived up towards the Barbican, in as neat a cottage as you could find in Draeth.

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

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading He had given up sailorin' then and turned fisherman, because he wouldn't leave his bonny little maid so much alone.

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

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

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

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

up to a particular time

From this reading It was not until Old John was getting on in years that he had married and set up a cabin of his own.

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

From this reading Old John lived up towards the Barbican, in as neat a cottage as you could find in Draeth.

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

From this reading It was not until Old John was getting on in years that he had married and set up a cabin of his own.

clean by virtue of having been washed in water

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

(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 No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

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

From this reading No woman ever did a hand's turn in his little, two-roomed crib; the old sailor washed and mended, cleaned and scrubbed, and kept his home so well that, as Mrs. Tregennis remarked, 'twould be possible to eat anything as 'e'd made, an' eat it off his floor at that, an' she for one would gladly do it.

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

From this reading He had given up sailorin' then and turned fisherman, because he wouldn't leave his bonny little maid so much alone.

a late time of life

From this reading It was not until Old John was getting on in years that he had married and set up a cabin of his own.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Old John lived up towards the Barbican, in as neat a cottage as you could find in Draeth.