Chapter IV · Chapter 4

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

From this reading It ill becomes me to speak of _his_ faults, but I must say my poor boys had a hard life of it with their father.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

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

From this reading He had no patience with them when mere children, and matters grew worse as they became older.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading I looked at the old lady with wonder, saying, "I did not know you had any children, Mrs. Judson."

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

From this reading He had no patience with them when mere children, and matters grew worse as they became older.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I looked at the old lady with wonder, saying, "I did not know you had any children, Mrs. Judson."

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading He had no patience with them when mere children, and matters grew worse as they became older.

third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading It ill becomes me to speak of _his_ faults, but I must say my poor boys had a hard life of it with their father.

a youthful male person

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

inflected form of “busy” — keep busy with

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

showing who or what does the action

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading I looked at the old lady with wonder, saying, "I did not know you had any children, Mrs. Judson."

dearly loved

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

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

From this reading I looked at the old lady with wonder, saying, "I did not know you had any children, Mrs. Judson."

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

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading It ill becomes me to speak of _his_ faults, but I must say my poor boys had a hard life of it with their father.

plural of “fault” — a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention

From this reading It ill becomes me to speak of _his_ faults, but I must say my poor boys had a hard life of it with their father.

inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading He had no patience with them when mere children, and matters grew worse as they became older.

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

From this reading I looked at the old lady with wonder, saying, "I did not know you had any children, Mrs. Judson."

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

From this reading It ill becomes me to speak of _his_ faults, but I must say my poor boys had a hard life of it with their father.

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

From this reading He had no patience with them when mere children, and matters grew worse as they became older.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

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

From this reading It ill becomes me to speak of _his_ faults, but I must say my poor boys had a hard life of it with their father.

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

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

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

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading It ill becomes me to speak of _his_ faults, but I must say my poor boys had a hard life of it with their father.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

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

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

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

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

a polite name for any woman

From this reading I looked at the old lady with wonder, saying, "I did not know you had any children, Mrs. Judson."

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading It ill becomes me to speak of _his_ faults, but I must say my poor boys had a hard life of it with their father.

plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading I looked at the old lady with wonder, saying, "I did not know you had any children, Mrs. Judson."

plural of “make” — a recognizable kind

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern

From this reading He had no patience with them when mere children, and matters grew worse as they became older.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

being nothing more than specified

From this reading He had no patience with them when mere children, and matters grew worse as they became older.

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

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

not any; not one

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I looked at the old lady with wonder, saying, "I did not know you had any children, Mrs. Judson."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

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

From this reading I looked at the old lady with wonder, saying, "I did not know you had any children, Mrs. Judson."

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading He had no patience with them when mere children, and matters grew worse as they became older.

on one occasion

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence

From this reading He had no patience with them when mere children, and matters grew worse as they became older.

by chance

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading It ill becomes me to speak of _his_ faults, but I must say my poor boys had a hard life of it with their father.

(of weather) wet by periods of rain

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

To recall to mind.

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

put in the mind of someone

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

(Old Testment) a son of Jacob and forefather of one of the tribes of Israel

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

express in words

From this reading It ill becomes me to speak of _his_ faults, but I must say my poor boys had a hard life of it with their father.

a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

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

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

express in speech

From this reading It ill becomes me to speak of _his_ faults, but I must say my poor boys had a hard life of it with their father.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

express a supposition

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

carry out

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

express in words

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

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

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading It ill becomes me to speak of _his_ faults, but I must say my poor boys had a hard life of it with their father.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He had no patience with them when mere children, and matters grew worse as they became older.

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

From this reading He had no patience with them when mere children, and matters grew worse as they became older.

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

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

precisely as stated

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

German conductor (1876-1962)

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

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

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

at the time that

From this reading He had no patience with them when mere children, and matters grew worse as they became older.

during the time that

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

which person or people

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.

in the company of; together with

From this reading I looked at the old lady with wonder, saying, "I did not know you had any children, Mrs. Judson."

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading I looked at the old lady with wonder, saying, "I did not know you had any children, Mrs. Judson."

(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability

From this reading He had no patience with them when mere children, and matters grew worse as they became older.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

superlative of “young” — (used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading One rainy afternoon, while busied about the house, Mrs. Judson surprised me by saying suddenly: "I suppose you don't know what makes me take so to you, Walter; but I'll tell you, you remind me of my youngest boy, Reuben."

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "True" said she, "I forgot you did not know; but no further than your mother lives from here she must remember that I once had two boys who were very dear to me, but perhaps she never told you about it.