used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading By a maternal instinct she picked up the child, who was toddling about the floor, and clasped it to her bosom.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading By a maternal instinct she picked up the child, who was toddling about the floor, and clasped it to her bosom.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They had called at the vicarage in driving up the valley, and Parson Christian was with them.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Two hours later the doctors arrived.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They had called at the vicarage in driving up the valley, and Parson Christian was with them.
the chest considered as the place where secret thoughts are kept
From this reading By a maternal instinct she picked up the child, who was toddling about the floor, and clasped it to her bosom.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By a maternal instinct she picked up the child, who was toddling about the floor, and clasped it to her bosom.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading They had called at the vicarage in driving up the valley, and Parson Christian was with them.
a young person of either sex
From this reading By a maternal instinct she picked up the child, who was toddling about the floor, and clasped it to her bosom.
relating to or characteristic of Christianity
From this reading They had called at the vicarage in driving up the valley, and Parson Christian was with them.
past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly
From this reading By a maternal instinct she picked up the child, who was toddling about the floor, and clasped it to her bosom.
doctorsnounUS /ˈdɑːktərz/
plural of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading Two hours later the doctors arrived.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading They had called at the vicarage in driving up the valley, and Parson Christian was with them.
opinion or judgment
From this reading They looked at Mercy's eyes, and were satisfied that the time was ripe for the operation.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading By a maternal instinct she picked up the child, who was toddling about the floor, and clasped it to her bosom.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They looked at Mercy's eyes, and were satisfied that the time was ripe for the operation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had called at the vicarage in driving up the valley, and Parson Christian was with them.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading By a maternal instinct she picked up the child, who was toddling about the floor, and clasped it to her bosom.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Two hours later the doctors arrived.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They had called at the vicarage in driving up the valley, and Parson Christian was with them.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading By a maternal instinct she picked up the child, who was toddling about the floor, and clasped it to her bosom.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading By a maternal instinct she picked up the child, who was toddling about the floor, and clasped it to her bosom.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Two hours later the doctors arrived.
lividadjectiveUS /ˈlɪvɪd/
anemic looking from illness or emotion
From this reading At the sound of their voices, Mercy trembled and turned livid.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading They looked at Mercy's eyes, and were satisfied that the time was ripe for the operation.
maternaladjectiveUS /məˈtɜːrnəl/
characteristic of a mother
From this reading By a maternal instinct she picked up the child, who was toddling about the floor, and clasped it to her bosom.
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
From this reading At the sound of their voices, Mercy trembled and turned livid.
Mercy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They looked at Mercy's eyes, and were satisfied that the time was ripe for the operation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the sound of their voices, Mercy trembled and turned livid.
operationnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃən/
the state of being in effect or being operative
From this reading They looked at Mercy's eyes, and were satisfied that the time was ripe for the operation.
ParsonnounUS /ˈpɑːrsən/
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading They had called at the vicarage in driving up the valley, and Parson Christian was with them.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading By a maternal instinct she picked up the child, who was toddling about the floor, and clasped it to her bosom.
ripeadjectiveUS /raɪp/
fully developed or matured and ready to be eaten or used
From this reading They looked at Mercy's eyes, and were satisfied that the time was ripe for the operation.
filled with satisfaction
From this reading They looked at Mercy's eyes, and were satisfied that the time was ripe for the operation.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading By a maternal instinct she picked up the child, who was toddling about the floor, and clasped it to her bosom.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading At the sound of their voices, Mercy trembled and turned livid.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They looked at Mercy's eyes, and were satisfied that the time was ripe for the operation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Two hours later the doctors arrived.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading At the sound of their voices, Mercy trembled and turned livid.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They had called at the vicarage in driving up the valley, and Parson Christian was with them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had called at the vicarage in driving up the valley, and Parson Christian was with them.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They looked at Mercy's eyes, and were satisfied that the time was ripe for the operation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading By a maternal instinct she picked up the child, who was toddling about the floor, and clasped it to her bosom.
toddlingverbUS /ˈtɑːdlɪŋ/
-ing form of “toddle” — walk unsteadily
From this reading By a maternal instinct she picked up the child, who was toddling about the floor, and clasped it to her bosom.
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading At the sound of their voices, Mercy trembled and turned livid.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading At the sound of their voices, Mercy trembled and turned livid.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two hours later the doctors arrived.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They had called at the vicarage in driving up the valley, and Parson Christian was with them.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading They had called at the vicarage in driving up the valley, and Parson Christian was with them.
vicaragenoun
an official residence provided by a church for its parson or vicar or rector
From this reading They had called at the vicarage in driving up the valley, and Parson Christian was with them.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading At the sound of their voices, Mercy trembled and turned livid.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They had called at the vicarage in driving up the valley, and Parson Christian was with them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They looked at Mercy's eyes, and were satisfied that the time was ripe for the operation.
which person or people
From this reading By a maternal instinct she picked up the child, who was toddling about the floor, and clasped it to her bosom.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They had called at the vicarage in driving up the valley, and Parson Christian was with them.
