used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was a pretty child, and robust.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading She kicked vigorously against being held almost upside down by her mother (as though by that means the dose of poison could be coaxed out of the child) but she did not cry.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading She kicked vigorously against being held almost upside down by her mother (as though by that means the dose of poison could be coaxed out of the child) but she did not cry.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading That youngster seemed to be the least disturbed of any of the party.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She kicked vigorously against being held almost upside down by her mother (as though by that means the dose of poison could be coaxed out of the child) but she did not cry.
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading That youngster seemed to be the least disturbed of any of the party.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading She kicked vigorously against being held almost upside down by her mother (as though by that means the dose of poison could be coaxed out of the child) but she did not cry.
next to; at the side of
From this reading She let the baby scream on the seat beside her while she held the little girl in her lap.
a youthful male person
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She kicked vigorously against being held almost upside down by her mother (as though by that means the dose of poison could be coaxed out of the child) but she did not cry.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She kicked vigorously against being held almost upside down by her mother (as though by that means the dose of poison could be coaxed out of the child) but she did not cry.
a young person of either sex
From this reading She was a pretty child, and robust.
coaxedverbUS /koʊkst/
past form of “coax” — influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
From this reading She kicked vigorously against being held almost upside down by her mother (as though by that means the dose of poison could be coaxed out of the child) but she did not cry.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She kicked vigorously against being held almost upside down by her mother (as though by that means the dose of poison could be coaxed out of the child) but she did not cry.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading She kicked vigorously against being held almost upside down by her mother (as though by that means the dose of poison could be coaxed out of the child) but she did not cry.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She kicked vigorously against being held almost upside down by her mother (as though by that means the dose of poison could be coaxed out of the child) but she did not cry.
having the place or position changed
From this reading That youngster seemed to be the least disturbed of any of the party.
dosenounUS /doʊs/
a measured portion of medicine taken at any one time
From this reading She kicked vigorously against being held almost upside down by her mother (as though by that means the dose of poison could be coaxed out of the child) but she did not cry.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She kicked vigorously against being held almost upside down by her mother (as though by that means the dose of poison could be coaxed out of the child) but she did not cry.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
made afraid
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
a young female
From this reading She let the baby scream on the seat beside her while she held the little girl in her lap.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading She let the baby scream on the seat beside her while she held the little girl in her lap.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She let the baby scream on the seat beside her while she held the little girl in her lap.
kickedverbUS /kɪkt/
past form of “kick” — drive or propel with the foot
From this reading She kicked vigorously against being held almost upside down by her mother (as though by that means the dose of poison could be coaxed out of the child) but she did not cry.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading She let the baby scream on the seat beside her while she held the little girl in her lap.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading That youngster seemed to be the least disturbed of any of the party.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading She let the baby scream on the seat beside her while she held the little girl in her lap.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
meager-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading She kicked vigorously against being held almost upside down by her mother (as though by that means the dose of poison could be coaxed out of the child) but she did not cry.
miserablyadverbUS /ˈmɪzərəbli/
in a miserable manner
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She kicked vigorously against being held almost upside down by her mother (as though by that means the dose of poison could be coaxed out of the child) but she did not cry.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She let the baby scream on the seat beside her while she held the little girl in her lap.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading That youngster seemed to be the least disturbed of any of the party.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
poisonverbUS /ˈpɔɪzən/
spoil as if by poison
From this reading She kicked vigorously against being held almost upside down by her mother (as though by that means the dose of poison could be coaxed out of the child) but she did not cry.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading She was a pretty child, and robust.
robustadjectiveUS /roʊˈbʌst/
sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction
From this reading She was a pretty child, and robust.
screamverbUS /skriːm/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading She let the baby scream on the seat beside her while she held the little girl in her lap.
screamingadjectiveUS /ˈskriːmɪŋ/
so extremely intense as to evoke screams
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading She let the baby scream on the seat beside her while she held the little girl in her lap.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading That youngster seemed to be the least disturbed of any of the party.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She let the baby scream on the seat beside her while she held the little girl in her lap.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That youngster seemed to be the least disturbed of any of the party.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She kicked vigorously against being held almost upside down by her mother (as though by that means the dose of poison could be coaxed out of the child) but she did not cry.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That youngster seemed to be the least disturbed of any of the party.
TUNNELverbUS /ˈtʌnəl/
move through by or as by digging
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
upsidenounUS /ˈʌpˈsaɪd/
the highest or uppermost side of anything
From this reading She kicked vigorously against being held almost upside down by her mother (as though by that means the dose of poison could be coaxed out of the child) but she did not cry.
vigorouslyadverbUS /ˈvɪɡərəsli/
with vigor; in a vigorous manner
From this reading She kicked vigorously against being held almost upside down by her mother (as though by that means the dose of poison could be coaxed out of the child) but she did not cry.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading She let the baby scream on the seat beside her while she held the little girl in her lap.
witsnounUS /wɪts/
the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading THE TUNNEL The baby was screaming, the little boy of four or five looked miserably unhappy, and the worn and meager-looking mother was plainly frightened out of her wits.
youngsternounUS /ˈjʌŋstər/
a young person of either sex
From this reading That youngster seemed to be the least disturbed of any of the party.
