used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I must confess that I had qualms about the child, which shows how illogical and unreasoning sentiment is.
affectverbUS /əˈfekt/
have an effect upon
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I had still made no plans as regards Lord Gascoyne and his heir.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I had still made no plans as regards Lord Gascoyne and his heir.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
a young person of either sex
From this reading I must confess that I had qualms about the child, which shows how illogical and unreasoning sentiment is.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading It was not easy for me to inflict pain on a child, as my fondness for children is exceptional.
confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading I must confess that I had qualms about the child, which shows how illogical and unreasoning sentiment is.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The means would have to be sudden and violent, and they were difficult to think of.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading It was not easy for me to inflict pain on a child, as my fondness for children is exceptional.
exceptionaladjectiveUS /ɪkˈsepʃənəl/
far beyond what is usual in magnitude or degree
From this reading It was not easy for me to inflict pain on a child, as my fondness for children is exceptional.
fondnessnounUS /ˈfɑːndnəs/
a predisposition to like something
From this reading It was not easy for me to inflict pain on a child, as my fondness for children is exceptional.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was not easy for me to inflict pain on a child, as my fondness for children is exceptional.
Gascoyne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had still made no plans as regards Lord Gascoyne and his heir.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had still made no plans as regards Lord Gascoyne and his heir.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The means would have to be sudden and violent, and they were difficult to think of.
heirnounUS /er/
A person legally or magically entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death.
From this reading I had still made no plans as regards Lord Gascoyne and his heir.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I had still made no plans as regards Lord Gascoyne and his heir.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I must confess that I had qualms about the child, which shows how illogical and unreasoning sentiment is.
plural of “hundred” — ten 10s
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I had still made no plans as regards Lord Gascoyne and his heir.
illogicaladjectiveUS /ˌɪˈlɑːdʒɪkəl/
lacking in correct logical relation
From this reading I must confess that I had qualms about the child, which shows how illogical and unreasoning sentiment is.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
infantnounUS /ˈɪnfənt/
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
inflictverbUS /ˌɪnˈflɪkt/
impose something unpleasant
From this reading It was not easy for me to inflict pain on a child, as my fondness for children is exceptional.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I must confess that I had qualms about the child, which shows how illogical and unreasoning sentiment is.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading I had still made no plans as regards Lord Gascoyne and his heir.
something that is lost
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading I had still made no plans as regards Lord Gascoyne and his heir.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was not easy for me to inflict pain on a child, as my fondness for children is exceptional.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading The means would have to be sudden and violent, and they were difficult to think of.
not caught with the senses or the mind
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I must confess that I had qualms about the child, which shows how illogical and unreasoning sentiment is.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It was not easy for me to inflict pain on a child, as my fondness for children is exceptional.
not any; not one
From this reading I had still made no plans as regards Lord Gascoyne and his heir.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not easy for me to inflict pain on a child, as my fondness for children is exceptional.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was not easy for me to inflict pain on a child, as my fondness for children is exceptional.
and nothing more
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading It was not easy for me to inflict pain on a child, as my fondness for children is exceptional.
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading I had still made no plans as regards Lord Gascoyne and his heir.
concerned with actual use or practice
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
qualmsnounUS /kwɑːmz/
plural of “qualm” — uneasiness about the fitness of an action
From this reading I must confess that I had qualms about the child, which shows how illogical and unreasoning sentiment is.
regardsnounUS /rɪˈɡɑːrdz/
plural of “regard” — (usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading I had still made no plans as regards Lord Gascoyne and his heir.
removeverbUS /riˈmuːv/
remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
tender, romantic, or nostalgic feeling or emotion
From this reading I must confess that I had qualms about the child, which shows how illogical and unreasoning sentiment is.
plural of “show” — the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining
From this reading I must confess that I had qualms about the child, which shows how illogical and unreasoning sentiment is.
not in physical motion
From this reading I had still made no plans as regards Lord Gascoyne and his heir.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading The means would have to be sudden and violent, and they were difficult to think of.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I must confess that I had qualms about the child, which shows how illogical and unreasoning sentiment is.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I must confess that I had qualms about the child, which shows how illogical and unreasoning sentiment is.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The means would have to be sudden and violent, and they were difficult to think of.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading The means would have to be sudden and violent, and they were difficult to think of.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
unreasoningadjectiveUS /ənˈriːznɪŋ/
not based on reason or evidence
From this reading I must confess that I had qualms about the child, which shows how illogical and unreasoning sentiment is.
acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
From this reading The means would have to be sudden and violent, and they were difficult to think of.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not easy for me to inflict pain on a child, as my fondness for children is exceptional.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The means would have to be sudden and violent, and they were difficult to think of.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I must confess that I had qualms about the child, which shows how illogical and unreasoning sentiment is.
which person or people
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
belonging to which person
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It is surely a greater crime to kill a grown individual who has a place in the practical work of the world, and who would be missed by hundreds, than to remove an infant whose loss could only affect his parents.
