used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading JOHN BROWN John Brown's life had hitherto been a curiously rough and tumble sort of existence.
airingnounUS /ˈerɪŋ/
the opening of a subject to widespread discussion and debate
From this reading When he had been taken tenderly for an "airing" by the trimmest of nursemaids, and in the daintiest of perambulators.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When he had been taken tenderly for an "airing" by the trimmest of nursemaids, and in the daintiest of perambulators.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading JOHN BROWN John Brown's life had hitherto been a curiously rough and tumble sort of existence.
arisenverbUS /ərˈɪzən/
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading When hopes and fears had arisen over "teething-time."
bed-time
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading JOHN BROWN John Brown's life had hitherto been a curiously rough and tumble sort of existence.
bonnets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he had worn tiny silk frocks and socks and bonnets.
of short duration or distance
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading JOHN BROWN John Brown's life had hitherto been a curiously rough and tumble sort of existence.
Brown'snounUS /braʊnz/
possessive form of “brown” — an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading JOHN BROWN John Brown's life had hitherto been a curiously rough and tumble sort of existence.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
curiouslyadverbUS /ˈkjʊriəsli/
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading JOHN BROWN John Brown's life had hitherto been a curiously rough and tumble sort of existence.
daintiest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he had been taken tenderly for an "airing" by the trimmest of nursemaids, and in the daintiest of perambulators.
delightedlyadverb
with delight
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading JOHN BROWN John Brown's life had hitherto been a curiously rough and tumble sort of existence.
fashionableadjectiveUS /ˈfæʃənəbəl/
being or in accordance with current social fashions
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
plural of “fear” — an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading When hopes and fears had arisen over "teething-time."
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
frocksnounUS /frɑːks/
plural of “frock” — a long, loose outer garment
From this reading When he had worn tiny silk frocks and socks and bonnets.
gleamsnounUS /ɡliːmz/
plural of “gleam” — an appearance of reflected light
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading JOHN BROWN John Brown's life had hitherto been a curiously rough and tumble sort of existence.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When he had been taken tenderly for an "airing" by the trimmest of nursemaids, and in the daintiest of perambulators.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
From this reading JOHN BROWN John Brown's life had hitherto been a curiously rough and tumble sort of existence.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading When hopes and fears had arisen over "teething-time."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading JOHN BROWN John Brown's life had hitherto been a curiously rough and tumble sort of existence.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading JOHN BROWN John Brown's life had hitherto been a curiously rough and tumble sort of existence.
used to form the superlative
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
nursemaids
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he had been taken tenderly for an "airing" by the trimmest of nursemaids, and in the daintiest of perambulators.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading JOHN BROWN John Brown's life had hitherto been a curiously rough and tumble sort of existence.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
perambulators
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he had been taken tenderly for an "airing" by the trimmest of nursemaids, and in the daintiest of perambulators.
perchedverbUS /pɜːrtʃt/
past form of “perch” — sit, as on a branch
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
rompnounUS /rɑːmp/
an easy victory
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading JOHN BROWN John Brown's life had hitherto been a curiously rough and tumble sort of existence.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading When he had worn tiny silk frocks and socks and bonnets.
socksnounUS /sɑːks/
plural of “sock” — hosiery consisting of a cloth covering for the foot; worn inside the shoe; reaches to between the ankle and the knee
From this reading When he had worn tiny silk frocks and socks and bonnets.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading JOHN BROWN John Brown's life had hitherto been a curiously rough and tumble sort of existence.
suburbsnounUS /ˈsʌbərbz/
plural of “suburb” — a residential district located on the outskirts of a city
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
Sydney'snounUS /ˈsɪdniz/
possessive form of “sydney” — the largest Australian city located in southeastern Australia on the Tasman Sea; state capital of New South Wales; Australia's chief port
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading When he had been taken tenderly for an "airing" by the trimmest of nursemaids, and in the daintiest of perambulators.
teething-time
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When hopes and fears had arisen over "teething-time."
tender-eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
tenderlyadverbUS /ˈtendərli/
with tenderness; in a tender manner
From this reading When he had been taken tenderly for an "airing" by the trimmest of nursemaids, and in the daintiest of perambulators.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When he had been taken tenderly for an "airing" by the trimmest of nursemaids, and in the daintiest of perambulators.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
very small
From this reading When he had worn tiny silk frocks and socks and bonnets.
trimmest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he had been taken tenderly for an "airing" by the trimmest of nursemaids, and in the daintiest of perambulators.
tumbleverbUS /ˈtʌmbəl/
fall down, as if collapsing
From this reading JOHN BROWN John Brown's life had hitherto been a curiously rough and tumble sort of existence.
unremembered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
at the time that
From this reading There had been a season, brief and entirely unremembered by him, when his home had been in one of Sydney's most fashionable suburbs; when a tender-eyed mother had watched delightedly over his first gleams of intelligence, and a proud father had perched him on his shoulder for a bed-time romp.
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading When he had worn tiny silk frocks and socks and bonnets.
