used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He tapped, and Betty opened the door a little.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading George went softly up the stairs and listened at the nursery door.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading George went softly up the stairs and listened at the nursery door.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tapped, and Betty opened the door a little.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading With this sorry comfort George went to his room and changed his clothes.
child'snounUS /tʃaɪldz/
possessive form of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading He could see the child's crib drawn up to the fire, the doctor hanging over it, while the poor father and mother clung together a little way off.
clothing in general
From this reading With this sorry comfort George went to his room and changed his clothes.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading He could see the child's crib drawn up to the fire, the doctor hanging over it, while the poor father and mother clung together a little way off.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading With this sorry comfort George went to his room and changed his clothes.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could see the child's crib drawn up to the fire, the doctor hanging over it, while the poor father and mother clung together a little way off.
cribnounUS /krɪb/
baby bed with high sides made of slats
From this reading He could see the child's crib drawn up to the fire, the doctor hanging over it, while the poor father and mother clung together a little way off.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading He could see the child's crib drawn up to the fire, the doctor hanging over it, while the poor father and mother clung together a little way off.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading George went softly up the stairs and listened at the nursery door.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading He could see the child's crib drawn up to the fire, the doctor hanging over it, while the poor father and mother clung together a little way off.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading He could see the child's crib drawn up to the fire, the doctor hanging over it, while the poor father and mother clung together a little way off.
start firing a weapon
From this reading He could see the child's crib drawn up to the fire, the doctor hanging over it, while the poor father and mother clung together a little way off.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading George went softly up the stairs and listened at the nursery door.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading He could see the child's crib drawn up to the fire, the doctor hanging over it, while the poor father and mother clung together a little way off.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He tapped, and Betty opened the door a little.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading With this sorry comfort George went to his room and changed his clothes.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "She is no worse," whispered Betty.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He could see the child's crib drawn up to the fire, the doctor hanging over it, while the poor father and mother clung together a little way off.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading George went softly up the stairs and listened at the nursery door.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He tapped, and Betty opened the door a little.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading He could see the child's crib drawn up to the fire, the doctor hanging over it, while the poor father and mother clung together a little way off.
not any; not one
From this reading "She is no worse," whispered Betty.
nurserynounUS /ˈnɜːrsəri/
a child's room for a baby
From this reading George went softly up the stairs and listened at the nursery door.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He could see the child's crib drawn up to the fire, the doctor hanging over it, while the poor father and mother clung together a little way off.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading He tapped, and Betty opened the door a little.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He could see the child's crib drawn up to the fire, the doctor hanging over it, while the poor father and mother clung together a little way off.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading He could see the child's crib drawn up to the fire, the doctor hanging over it, while the poor father and mother clung together a little way off.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading With this sorry comfort George went to his room and changed his clothes.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He could see the child's crib drawn up to the fire, the doctor hanging over it, while the poor father and mother clung together a little way off.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "She is no worse," whispered Betty.
with low volume
From this reading George went softly up the stairs and listened at the nursery door.
sorryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading With this sorry comfort George went to his room and changed his clothes.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading George went softly up the stairs and listened at the nursery door.
tappedadjectiveUS /tæpt/
in a condition for letting out liquid drawn out as by piercing or drawing a plug
From this reading He tapped, and Betty opened the door a little.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading George went softly up the stairs and listened at the nursery door.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading With this sorry comfort George went to his room and changed his clothes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He could see the child's crib drawn up to the fire, the doctor hanging over it, while the poor father and mother clung together a little way off.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading He could see the child's crib drawn up to the fire, the doctor hanging over it, while the poor father and mother clung together a little way off.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading George went softly up the stairs and listened at the nursery door.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He could see the child's crib drawn up to the fire, the doctor hanging over it, while the poor father and mother clung together a little way off.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading George went softly up the stairs and listened at the nursery door.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He could see the child's crib drawn up to the fire, the doctor hanging over it, while the poor father and mother clung together a little way off.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading "She is no worse," whispered Betty.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With this sorry comfort George went to his room and changed his clothes.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading "She is no worse," whispered Betty.
