Chapter III · Chapter 3

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

From this reading How shall a man describe what passed in the mind of a childless wife, with a motherless boy in her arms!

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

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

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Some women love so without having any.

weapons considered collectively

From this reading How shall a man describe what passed in the mind of a childless wife, with a motherless boy in her arms!

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

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

plural of “bear” — massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

for the reason that

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

a youthful male person

From this reading How shall a man describe what passed in the mind of a childless wife, with a motherless boy in her arms!

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

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

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

a young person of either sex

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

without offspring

From this reading How shall a man describe what passed in the mind of a childless wife, with a motherless boy in her arms!

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

From this reading It is that they may learn to love thus, that women have children.

give a description of

From this reading How shall a man describe what passed in the mind of a childless wife, with a motherless boy in her arms!

emanating from God

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

without doubt; certainly

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

a social unit living together

From this reading THE NEW FAMILY.

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

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Some women love so without having any.

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

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading How shall a man describe what passed in the mind of a childless wife, with a motherless boy in her arms!

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

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

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

From this reading How shall a man describe what passed in the mind of a childless wife, with a motherless boy in her arms!

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

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

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

From this reading How shall a man describe what passed in the mind of a childless wife, with a motherless boy in her arms!

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

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

gain knowledge or skills

From this reading It is that they may learn to love thus, that women have children.

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

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

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading How shall a man describe what passed in the mind of a childless wife, with a motherless boy in her arms!

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading It is that they may learn to love thus, that women have children.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading How shall a man describe what passed in the mind of a childless wife, with a motherless boy in her arms!

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

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

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

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

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

having no living or known mother

From this reading How shall a man describe what passed in the mind of a childless wife, with a motherless boy in her arms!

as follows

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading THE NEW FAMILY.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading How shall a man describe what passed in the mind of a childless wife, with a motherless boy in her arms!

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading How shall a man describe what passed in the mind of a childless wife, with a motherless boy in her arms!

a stipulated condition

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

in spite of everything; without regard to drawbacks

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading How shall a man describe what passed in the mind of a childless wife, with a motherless boy in her arms!

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Some women love so without having any.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Some women love so without having any.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

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

From this reading THE NEW FAMILY.

in or at that place or location

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

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

From this reading It is that they may learn to love thus, that women have children.

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading It is that they may learn to love thus, that women have children.

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

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading How shall a man describe what passed in the mind of a childless wife, with a motherless boy in her arms!

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

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

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading How shall a man describe what passed in the mind of a childless wife, with a motherless boy in her arms!

in the company of; together with

From this reading How shall a man describe what passed in the mind of a childless wife, with a motherless boy in her arms!

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Some women love so without having any.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading It is the loveliest provision, doubtless, that every child should have a mother of his own; but there is a mother-love--which I had almost called more divine--the love, namely, that a woman bears to a child because he is a child, regardless of whether he be her own or another’s.

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading It is that they may learn to love thus, that women have children.