used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
(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 His hair was yellow, but cut so short that it could not curl at all.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was eight years old, and his name was Geoffry.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Jeff had big wide-awake, brown eyes, that seemed as if they never could look sleepy.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His hair was yellow, but cut so short that it could not curl at all.
for the reason that
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Jeff had big wide-awake, brown eyes, that seemed as if they never could look sleepy.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading Jeff had big wide-awake, brown eyes, that seemed as if they never could look sleepy.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But everyone called him Jeff.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading But everyone called him Jeff.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
a young person of either sex
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Jeff had big wide-awake, brown eyes, that seemed as if they never could look sleepy.
curlverbUS /kɜːrl/
form a curl, curve, or kink
From this reading His hair was yellow, but cut so short that it could not curl at all.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading His hair was yellow, but cut so short that it could not curl at all.
being one more than seven
From this reading He was eight years old, and his name was Geoffry.
every person
From this reading But everyone called him Jeff.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Jeff had big wide-awake, brown eyes, that seemed as if they never could look sleepy.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
Geoffry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was eight years old, and his name was Geoffry.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading His hair was yellow, but cut so short that it could not curl at all.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was eight years old, and his name was Geoffry.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But everyone called him Jeff.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was eight years old, and his name was Geoffry.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Jeff had big wide-awake, brown eyes, that seemed as if they never could look sleepy.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His hair was yellow, but cut so short that it could not curl at all.
Jeff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But everyone called him Jeff.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Jeff had big wide-awake, brown eyes, that seemed as if they never could look sleepy.
held dear
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading He was eight years old, and his name was Geoffry.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Jeff had big wide-awake, brown eyes, that seemed as if they never could look sleepy.
not any; not one
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He was eight years old, and his name was Geoffry.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
express in words
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Jeff had big wide-awake, brown eyes, that seemed as if they never could look sleepy.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading His hair was yellow, but cut so short that it could not curl at all.
sleepyadjectiveUS /ˈsliːpi/
ready to fall asleep
From this reading Jeff had big wide-awake, brown eyes, that seemed as if they never could look sleepy.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading His hair was yellow, but cut so short that it could not curl at all.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Jeff had big wide-awake, brown eyes, that seemed as if they never could look sleepy.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Jeff had big wide-awake, brown eyes, that seemed as if they never could look sleepy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was eight years old, and his name was Geoffry.
which person or people
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
wide-awakeadjective
fully awake
From this reading Jeff had big wide-awake, brown eyes, that seemed as if they never could look sleepy.
the words that are spoken
From this reading The gentle lady who was his mother had no other children, and she loved him more than words can say; not because he was a good or pretty child--for he was neither--but because he was her one little child.
a late time of life
From this reading He was eight years old, and his name was Geoffry.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading His hair was yellow, but cut so short that it could not curl at all.
