Chapter XVI · An Unexpected Arrival

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

From this reading The baby wakened with shrill screams and the only way to quiet her was to give her the bottle, which was now less than a third full.

farther along in physical or mental development

From this reading As the night advanced the two girls continued to talk, in low and subdued voices because of their anxiety and growing fears.

make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading Mildred was in a quandary whether to withhold the remainder of the food from little Jane, so as to prolong her life as much as possible, or to allow the baby to eat what she desired, as long as any of the food remained.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading They were not hungry, although they had eaten nothing since noon, but they were beginning to suffer from thirst.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading As the night advanced the two girls continued to talk, in low and subdued voices because of their anxiety and growing fears.

(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 As the night advanced the two girls continued to talk, in low and subdued voices because of their anxiety and growing fears.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Mildred was in a quandary whether to withhold the remainder of the food from little Jane, so as to prolong her life as much as possible, or to allow the baby to eat what she desired, as long as any of the food remained.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading As the night advanced the two girls continued to talk, in low and subdued voices because of their anxiety and growing fears.

a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk

From this reading The baby wakened with shrill screams and the only way to quiet her was to give her the bottle, which was now less than a third full.

for the reason that

From this reading As the night advanced the two girls continued to talk, in low and subdued voices because of their anxiety and growing fears.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading They were not hungry, although they had eaten nothing since noon, but they were beginning to suffer from thirst.

a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped

From this reading The baby wakened with shrill screams and the only way to quiet her was to give her the bottle, which was now less than a third full.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading They were not hungry, although they had eaten nothing since noon, but they were beginning to suffer from thirst.

plural of “candle” — stick of wax with a wick in the middle

From this reading They kept the candles trimmed, for the light lent them courage.

without stop or interruption

From this reading As the night advanced the two girls continued to talk, in low and subdued voices because of their anxiety and growing fears.

a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear

From this reading They kept the candles trimmed, for the light lent them courage.

wanted intensely

From this reading Mildred was in a quandary whether to withhold the remainder of the food from little Jane, so as to prolong her life as much as possible, or to allow the baby to eat what she desired, as long as any of the food remained.

take in solid food

From this reading Mildred was in a quandary whether to withhold the remainder of the food from little Jane, so as to prolong her life as much as possible, or to allow the baby to eat what she desired, as long as any of the food remained.

inflected form of “eat” — take in solid food

From this reading They were not hungry, although they had eaten nothing since noon, but they were beginning to suffer from thirst.

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 As the night advanced the two girls continued to talk, in low and subdued voices because of their anxiety and growing fears.

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading Mildred was in a quandary whether to withhold the remainder of the food from little Jane, so as to prolong her life as much as possible, or to allow the baby to eat what she desired, as long as any of the food remained.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading They kept the candles trimmed, for the light lent them courage.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading They were not hungry, although they had eaten nothing since noon, but they were beginning to suffer from thirst.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading The baby wakened with shrill screams and the only way to quiet her was to give her the bottle, which was now less than a third full.

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading As the night advanced the two girls continued to talk, in low and subdued voices because of their anxiety and growing fears.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading The baby wakened with shrill screams and the only way to quiet her was to give her the bottle, which was now less than a third full.

(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level

From this reading As the night advanced the two girls continued to talk, in low and subdued voices because of their anxiety and growing fears.

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

From this reading They were not hungry, although they had eaten nothing since noon, but they were beginning to suffer from thirst.

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

From this reading The baby wakened with shrill screams and the only way to quiet her was to give her the bottle, which was now less than a third full.

feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food

From this reading They were not hungry, although they had eaten nothing since noon, but they were beginning to suffer from thirst.

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

From this reading As the night advanced the two girls continued to talk, in low and subdued voices because of their anxiety and growing fears.

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

From this reading Mildred was in a quandary whether to withhold the remainder of the food from little Jane, so as to prolong her life as much as possible, or to allow the baby to eat what she desired, as long as any of the food remained.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading They kept the candles trimmed, for the light lent them courage.

a period of 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday

From this reading They kept the candles trimmed, for the light lent them courage.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading The baby wakened with shrill screams and the only way to quiet her was to give her the bottle, which was now less than a third full.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Mildred was in a quandary whether to withhold the remainder of the food from little Jane, so as to prolong her life as much as possible, or to allow the baby to eat what she desired, as long as any of the food remained.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading They kept the candles trimmed, for the light lent them courage.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Mildred was in a quandary whether to withhold the remainder of the food from little Jane, so as to prolong her life as much as possible, or to allow the baby to eat what she desired, as long as any of the food remained.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Mildred was in a quandary whether to withhold the remainder of the food from little Jane, so as to prolong her life as much as possible, or to allow the baby to eat what she desired, as long as any of the food remained.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading As the night advanced the two girls continued to talk, in low and subdued voices because of their anxiety and growing fears.

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

From this reading Mildred was in a quandary whether to withhold the remainder of the food from little Jane, so as to prolong her life as much as possible, or to allow the baby to eat what she desired, as long as any of the food remained.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Mildred was in a quandary whether to withhold the remainder of the food from little Jane, so as to prolong her life as much as possible, or to allow the baby to eat what she desired, as long as any of the food remained.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading As the night advanced the two girls continued to talk, in low and subdued voices because of their anxiety and growing fears.

the middle of the day

From this reading They were not hungry, although they had eaten nothing since noon, but they were beginning to suffer from thirst.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading They were not hungry, although they had eaten nothing since noon, but they were beginning to suffer from thirst.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading They were not hungry, although they had eaten nothing since noon, but they were beginning to suffer from thirst.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading The baby wakened with shrill screams and the only way to quiet her was to give her the bottle, which was now less than a third full.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading As the night advanced the two girls continued to talk, in low and subdued voices because of their anxiety and growing fears.

and nothing more

From this reading The baby wakened with shrill screams and the only way to quiet her was to give her the bottle, which was now less than a third full.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Mildred was in a quandary whether to withhold the remainder of the food from little Jane, so as to prolong her life as much as possible, or to allow the baby to eat what she desired, as long as any of the food remained.

capable of happening or existing

From this reading Mildred was in a quandary whether to withhold the remainder of the food from little Jane, so as to prolong her life as much as possible, or to allow the baby to eat what she desired, as long as any of the food remained.

lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer

From this reading Mildred was in a quandary whether to withhold the remainder of the food from little Jane, so as to prolong her life as much as possible, or to allow the baby to eat what she desired, as long as any of the food remained.

a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one

From this reading Mildred was in a quandary whether to withhold the remainder of the food from little Jane, so as to prolong her life as much as possible, or to allow the baby to eat what she desired, as long as any of the food remained.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading The baby wakened with shrill screams and the only way to quiet her was to give her the bottle, which was now less than a third full.

something left after other parts have been taken away

From this reading Mildred was in a quandary whether to withhold the remainder of the food from little Jane, so as to prolong her life as much as possible, or to allow the baby to eat what she desired, as long as any of the food remained.

past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading Mildred was in a quandary whether to withhold the remainder of the food from little Jane, so as to prolong her life as much as possible, or to allow the baby to eat what she desired, as long as any of the food remained.

plural of “scream” — sharp piercing cry

From this reading The baby wakened with shrill screams and the only way to quiet her was to give her the bottle, which was now less than a third full.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Mildred was in a quandary whether to withhold the remainder of the food from little Jane, so as to prolong her life as much as possible, or to allow the baby to eat what she desired, as long as any of the food remained.

having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones

From this reading The baby wakened with shrill screams and the only way to quiet her was to give her the bottle, which was now less than a third full.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading They were not hungry, although they had eaten nothing since noon, but they were beginning to suffer from thirst.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Mildred was in a quandary whether to withhold the remainder of the food from little Jane, so as to prolong her life as much as possible, or to allow the baby to eat what she desired, as long as any of the food remained.

in a softened tone

From this reading As the night advanced the two girls continued to talk, in low and subdued voices because of their anxiety and growing fears.

undergo or be subjected to

From this reading They were not hungry, although they had eaten nothing since noon, but they were beginning to suffer from thirst.

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading As the night advanced the two girls continued to talk, in low and subdued voices because of their anxiety and growing fears.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The baby wakened with shrill screams and the only way to quiet her was to give her the bottle, which was now less than a third full.

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

From this reading As the night advanced the two girls continued to talk, in low and subdued voices because of their anxiety and growing fears.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading As the night advanced the two girls continued to talk, in low and subdued voices because of their anxiety and growing fears.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading They kept the candles trimmed, for the light lent them courage.

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

From this reading They kept the candles trimmed, for the light lent them courage.

one of three equal parts of a divisible whole

From this reading The baby wakened with shrill screams and the only way to quiet her was to give her the bottle, which was now less than a third full.

a physiological need to drink

From this reading They were not hungry, although they had eaten nothing since noon, but they were beginning to suffer from thirst.

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

From this reading As the night advanced the two girls continued to talk, in low and subdued voices because of their anxiety and growing fears.

made neat and tidy by trimming

From this reading They kept the candles trimmed, for the light lent them courage.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading As the night advanced the two girls continued to talk, in low and subdued voices because of their anxiety and growing fears.

plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading As the night advanced the two girls continued to talk, in low and subdued voices because of their anxiety and growing fears.

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

From this reading The baby wakened with shrill screams and the only way to quiet her was to give her the bottle, which was now less than a third full.

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

From this reading The baby wakened with shrill screams and the only way to quiet her was to give her the bottle, which was now less than a third full.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading The baby wakened with shrill screams and the only way to quiet her was to give her the bottle, which was now less than a third full.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading They were not hungry, although they had eaten nothing since noon, but they were beginning to suffer from thirst.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Mildred was in a quandary whether to withhold the remainder of the food from little Jane, so as to prolong her life as much as possible, or to allow the baby to eat what she desired, as long as any of the food remained.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading Mildred was in a quandary whether to withhold the remainder of the food from little Jane, so as to prolong her life as much as possible, or to allow the baby to eat what she desired, as long as any of the food remained.

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

From this reading The baby wakened with shrill screams and the only way to quiet her was to give her the bottle, which was now less than a third full.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The baby wakened with shrill screams and the only way to quiet her was to give her the bottle, which was now less than a third full.

hold back; refuse to hand over or share

From this reading Mildred was in a quandary whether to withhold the remainder of the food from little Jane, so as to prolong her life as much as possible, or to allow the baby to eat what she desired, as long as any of the food remained.