Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading She was a grey-headed woman, with a face that might have been stern if the lines about the mouth had not been so gentle; a face, too, that was care-worn, yet full of peace.

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

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

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

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She was a grey-headed woman, with a face that might have been stern if the lines about the mouth had not been so gentle; a face, too, that was care-worn, yet full of peace.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

movement that causes the formation of a curve

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

next to; at the side of

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

stick of wax with a wick in the middle

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

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

From this reading She was a grey-headed woman, with a face that might have been stern if the lines about the mouth had not been so gentle; a face, too, that was care-worn, yet full of peace.

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

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

plural of “corridor” — an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

all things; all of a situation

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading She was a grey-headed woman, with a face that might have been stern if the lines about the mouth had not been so gentle; a face, too, that was care-worn, yet full of peace.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading She was a grey-headed woman, with a face that might have been stern if the lines about the mouth had not been so gentle; a face, too, that was care-worn, yet full of peace.

soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe

From this reading She was a grey-headed woman, with a face that might have been stern if the lines about the mouth had not been so gentle; a face, too, that was care-worn, yet full of peace.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

showing characteristics of age, especially having grey or white hair

From this reading She was a grey-headed woman, with a face that might have been stern if the lines about the mouth had not been so gentle; a face, too, that was care-worn, yet full of peace.

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

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading She was a grey-headed woman, with a face that might have been stern if the lines about the mouth had not been so gentle; a face, too, that was care-worn, yet full of peace.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

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

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading She was a grey-headed woman, with a face that might have been stern if the lines about the mouth had not been so gentle; a face, too, that was care-worn, yet full of peace.

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

From this reading LIFE IN THE ORPHANAGE.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

the emotion of great happiness

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading LIFE IN THE ORPHANAGE.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

set afire or burning

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading She was a grey-headed woman, with a face that might have been stern if the lines about the mouth had not been so gentle; a face, too, that was care-worn, yet full of peace.

past form of “listen” — hear with intention

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

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

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

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 Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading She was a grey-headed woman, with a face that might have been stern if the lines about the mouth had not been so gentle; a face, too, that was care-worn, yet full of peace.

the natural satellite of the Earth

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading She was a grey-headed woman, with a face that might have been stern if the lines about the mouth had not been so gentle; a face, too, that was care-worn, yet full of peace.

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

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

according to the clock

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

many times at short intervals

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

the condition of being a child without living parents

From this reading LIFE IN THE ORPHANAGE.

above and across; more than

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

the state prevailing during the absence of war

From this reading She was a grey-headed woman, with a face that might have been stern if the lines about the mouth had not been so gentle; a face, too, that was care-worn, yet full of peace.

past form of “reveal” — make visible

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

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

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

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

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

the state of being asleep

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect

From this reading She was a grey-headed woman, with a face that might have been stern if the lines about the mouth had not been so gentle; a face, too, that was care-worn, yet full of peace.

not in physical motion

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

possessive form of “superintendent” — a person who directs and manages an organization

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

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

From this reading LIFE IN THE ORPHANAGE.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

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

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading She was a grey-headed woman, with a face that might have been stern if the lines about the mouth had not been so gentle; a face, too, that was care-worn, yet full of peace.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

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

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

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

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading She did not think of sleeping, for though the moon still hung in the sky, it was Christmas morning--five o'clock on Christmas morning at the Orphanage; and the little ones had everything their own way on Christmas Day.

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

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords

From this reading Long before it was light, little feet were passing up and down those great stone stairs, little voices whispered in the corridors, little night-dresses rustled by the superintendent's door.

in the company of; together with

From this reading So she sat up in bed, with the candle lighted beside her, bending her head over a book she held in her hand, and often smiling to herself as she listened to the sounds that revealed the children's joy.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading She was a grey-headed woman, with a face that might have been stern if the lines about the mouth had not been so gentle; a face, too, that was care-worn, yet full of peace.

but in spite of that

From this reading She was a grey-headed woman, with a face that might have been stern if the lines about the mouth had not been so gentle; a face, too, that was care-worn, yet full of peace.