used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The idea of my drowning even did I meet with so ludicrous a mishap!
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading But I was accustomed to my mother's anxious care, for as an only child there had fallen to me a double portion of maternal solicitude.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But I was accustomed to my mother's anxious care, for as an only child there had fallen to me a double portion of maternal solicitude.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was standing by the gate, and from my perch on the back of the off-wheeler, I smiled down on her with boyish self-assurance.
eagerly desirous
From this reading But I was accustomed to my mother's anxious care, for as an only child there had fallen to me a double portion of maternal solicitude.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But I was accustomed to my mother's anxious care, for as an only child there had fallen to me a double portion of maternal solicitude.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She was standing by the gate, and from my perch on the back of the off-wheeler, I smiled down on her with boyish self-assurance.
boyishadjectiveUS /ˈbɔɪɪʃ/
befitting or characteristic of a young boy
From this reading She was standing by the gate, and from my perch on the back of the off-wheeler, I smiled down on her with boyish self-assurance.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But I was accustomed to my mother's anxious care, for as an only child there had fallen to me a double portion of maternal solicitude.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She was standing by the gate, and from my perch on the back of the off-wheeler, I smiled down on her with boyish self-assurance.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading "Take care not to tumble into the water, David," said my mother.
a young person of either sex
From this reading But I was accustomed to my mother's anxious care, for as an only child there had fallen to me a double portion of maternal solicitude.
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading "Take care not to tumble into the water, David," said my mother.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The idea of my drowning even did I meet with so ludicrous a mishap!
increase twofold
From this reading But I was accustomed to my mother's anxious care, for as an only child there had fallen to me a double portion of maternal solicitude.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She was standing by the gate, and from my perch on the back of the off-wheeler, I smiled down on her with boyish self-assurance.
drowningverbUS /ˈdraʊnɪŋ/
-ing form of “drown” — cover completely or make imperceptible
From this reading The idea of my drowning even did I meet with so ludicrous a mishap!
divisible by two
From this reading The idea of my drowning even did I meet with so ludicrous a mishap!
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading But I was accustomed to my mother's anxious care, for as an only child there had fallen to me a double portion of maternal solicitude.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But I was accustomed to my mother's anxious care, for as an only child there had fallen to me a double portion of maternal solicitude.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She was standing by the gate, and from my perch on the back of the off-wheeler, I smiled down on her with boyish self-assurance.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading She was standing by the gate, and from my perch on the back of the off-wheeler, I smiled down on her with boyish self-assurance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But I was accustomed to my mother's anxious care, for as an only child there had fallen to me a double portion of maternal solicitude.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was standing by the gate, and from my perch on the back of the off-wheeler, I smiled down on her with boyish self-assurance.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading She was standing by the gate, and from my perch on the back of the off-wheeler, I smiled down on her with boyish self-assurance.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The idea of my tumbling into the water!
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "Take care not to tumble into the water, David," said my mother.
ludicrousadjectiveUS /ˈluːdəkrəs/
broadly or extravagantly humorous; resembling farce
From this reading The idea of my drowning even did I meet with so ludicrous a mishap!
maternaladjectiveUS /məˈtɜːrnəl/
characteristic of a mother
From this reading But I was accustomed to my mother's anxious care, for as an only child there had fallen to me a double portion of maternal solicitude.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But I was accustomed to my mother's anxious care, for as an only child there had fallen to me a double portion of maternal solicitude.
come together
From this reading The idea of my drowning even did I meet with so ludicrous a mishap!
mishapnounUS /ˈmɪshæp/
an unpredictable outcome that is unfortunate
From this reading The idea of my drowning even did I meet with so ludicrous a mishap!
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading "Take care not to tumble into the water, David," said my mother.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading But I was accustomed to my mother's anxious care, for as an only child there had fallen to me a double portion of maternal solicitude.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Take care not to tumble into the water, David," said my mother.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Take care not to tumble into the water, David," said my mother.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was standing by the gate, and from my perch on the back of the off-wheeler, I smiled down on her with boyish self-assurance.
off-wheeler
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was standing by the gate, and from my perch on the back of the off-wheeler, I smiled down on her with boyish self-assurance.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She was standing by the gate, and from my perch on the back of the off-wheeler, I smiled down on her with boyish self-assurance.
and nothing more
From this reading But I was accustomed to my mother's anxious care, for as an only child there had fallen to me a double portion of maternal solicitude.
perchnounUS /pɜːrtʃ/
support consisting of a branch or rod that serves as a resting place (especially for a bird)
From this reading She was standing by the gate, and from my perch on the back of the off-wheeler, I smiled down on her with boyish self-assurance.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading But I was accustomed to my mother's anxious care, for as an only child there had fallen to me a double portion of maternal solicitude.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Take care not to tumble into the water, David," said my mother.
self-assurancenoun
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading She was standing by the gate, and from my perch on the back of the off-wheeler, I smiled down on her with boyish self-assurance.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was standing by the gate, and from my perch on the back of the off-wheeler, I smiled down on her with boyish self-assurance.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading She was standing by the gate, and from my perch on the back of the off-wheeler, I smiled down on her with boyish self-assurance.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The idea of my drowning even did I meet with so ludicrous a mishap!
solicitudenounUS /səˈlɪsɪtuːd/
a feeling of excessive concern
From this reading But I was accustomed to my mother's anxious care, for as an only child there had fallen to me a double portion of maternal solicitude.
having a supporting base
From this reading She was standing by the gate, and from my perch on the back of the off-wheeler, I smiled down on her with boyish self-assurance.
carry out
From this reading "Take care not to tumble into the water, David," said my mother.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Take care not to tumble into the water, David," said my mother.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But I was accustomed to my mother's anxious care, for as an only child there had fallen to me a double portion of maternal solicitude.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Take care not to tumble into the water, David," said my mother.
tumbleverbUS /ˈtʌmbəl/
fall down, as if collapsing
From this reading "Take care not to tumble into the water, David," said my mother.
tumblingnounUS /ˈtʌmbəlɪŋ/
the gymnastic moves of an acrobat
From this reading The idea of my tumbling into the water!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was standing by the gate, and from my perch on the back of the off-wheeler, I smiled down on her with boyish self-assurance.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading "Take care not to tumble into the water, David," said my mother.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She was standing by the gate, and from my perch on the back of the off-wheeler, I smiled down on her with boyish self-assurance.
