used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The doctor says that Roy will surely live; and he hopes that the wounds will not prove so serious as we feared at first and as they looked.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The doctor says that Roy will surely live; and he hopes that the wounds will not prove so serious as we feared at first and as they looked.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
have
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
Beverly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Dear little Mother," wrote Beverly.
BrowningnounUS /ˈbraʊnɪŋ/
United States inventor of firearms (especially automatic pistols and repeating rifles and a machine gun called the Peacemaker) (1855-1926)
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
Christs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
deem to be
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
dearly loved
From this reading "Dear little Mother," wrote Beverly.
desolateadjectiveUS /ˈdesələt/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading The doctor says that Roy will surely live; and he hopes that the wounds will not prove so serious as we feared at first and as they looked.
opinion or judgment
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The doctor says that Roy will surely live; and he hopes that the wounds will not prove so serious as we feared at first and as they looked.
hardestadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdəst/
superlative of “hard” — with effort or force or vigor
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The doctor says that Roy will surely live; and he hopes that the wounds will not prove so serious as we feared at first and as they looked.
hopefuladjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpfəl/
having or manifesting hope
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading The doctor says that Roy will surely live; and he hopes that the wounds will not prove so serious as we feared at first and as they looked.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
inactionnounUS /ˌɪˈnækʃən/
the state of being inactive
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
inactiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnæktɪv/
(chemistry) not participating in a chemical reaction; chemically inert
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
immediately past
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Dear little Mother," wrote Beverly.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading The doctor says that Roy will surely live; and he hopes that the wounds will not prove so serious as we feared at first and as they looked.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The doctor says that Roy will surely live; and he hopes that the wounds will not prove so serious as we feared at first and as they looked.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
used to form the superlative
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading "Dear little Mother," wrote Beverly.
mothersnounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
plural of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
information about recent and important events
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
not any; not one
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
be shown or be found to be
From this reading The doctor says that Roy will surely live; and he hopes that the wounds will not prove so serious as we feared at first and as they looked.
(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
Roy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
express in words
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading The doctor says that Roy will surely live; and he hopes that the wounds will not prove so serious as we feared at first and as they looked.
cause to go somewhere
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading The doctor says that Roy will surely live; and he hopes that the wounds will not prove so serious as we feared at first and as they looked.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
plural of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
be standing; be upright
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading The doctor says that Roy will surely live; and he hopes that the wounds will not prove so serious as we feared at first and as they looked.
carry out
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
telegraphedverbUS /ˈteləɡræft/
past form of “telegraph” — send cables, wires, or telegrams
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The doctor says that Roy will surely live; and he hopes that the wounds will not prove so serious as we feared at first and as they looked.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
uncertaintynounUS /ənˈsɜːrtənti/
being unsettled or in doubt or dependent on chance
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
unhurtadjectiveUS /ənˈhɜːrt/
not injured or harmed
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
precisely as stated
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
at the time that
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
which person or people
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
belonging to which person
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The doctor says that Roy will surely live; and he hopes that the wounds will not prove so serious as we feared at first and as they looked.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading "Consider, I pray, How we common mothers stand desolate, mark, Whose sons, not being Christs, die with eyes turned away, And no last word to say!"_ Mrs. Browning.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
people who are wounded
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
woundsnounUS /wuːndz/
plural of “wound” — an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading The doctor says that Roy will surely live; and he hopes that the wounds will not prove so serious as we feared at first and as they looked.
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading "Dear little Mother," wrote Beverly.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "When I telegraphed you last night that Roy was wounded and that I was safe and unhurt, I feared, that to-day this letter would take you most terrible news--you who have the hardest part to bear, the silent, inactive part of waiting and uncertainty and inaction and anxiety--but to-day I feel so relieved that I can send you a very hopeful letter.
