Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

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

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something

From this reading Two brothers and a sister made at the same time a like inauspicious entrance upon an alien and fettered existence.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Two brothers and a sister made at the same time a like inauspicious entrance upon an alien and fettered existence.

plural of “ancestor” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

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

From this reading Two brothers and a sister made at the same time a like inauspicious entrance upon an alien and fettered existence.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Two brothers and a sister made at the same time a like inauspicious entrance upon an alien and fettered existence.

a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Whelps of the great gray timber wolf, born in captivity, and therefore likely to be docile, were rare and precious.

relevant relation or interconnection

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

for the reason that

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

the state of being under the control of a force or influence or abstract power

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

brought into existence

From this reading Whelps of the great gray timber wolf, born in captivity, and therefore likely to be docile, were rare and precious.

plural of “breast” — the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading Two brothers and a sister made at the same time a like inauspicious entrance upon an alien and fettered existence.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

the state of being imprisoned

From this reading Whelps of the great gray timber wolf, born in captivity, and therefore likely to be docile, were rare and precious.

a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

willing to be taught or led or supervised or directed

From this reading Whelps of the great gray timber wolf, born in captivity, and therefore likely to be docile, were rare and precious.

put up with something or somebody unpleasant

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

something that provides access (to get in or get out)

From this reading Two brothers and a sister made at the same time a like inauspicious entrance upon an alien and fettered existence.

divisible by two

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

the state or fact of existing

From this reading Two brothers and a sister made at the same time a like inauspicious entrance upon an alien and fettered existence.

bound by chains fastened around the ankles

From this reading Two brothers and a sister made at the same time a like inauspicious entrance upon an alien and fettered existence.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

past form of “forestall” — keep from happening or arising; make impossible

From this reading But the watchful keeper forestalled her.

the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

plural of “generation” — all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading Whelps of the great gray timber wolf, born in captivity, and therefore likely to be docile, were rare and precious.

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

From this reading Whelps of the great gray timber wolf, born in captivity, and therefore likely to be docile, were rare and precious.

not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

acting with uncertainty or hesitance or lack of confidence

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

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

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

occurring among members of a family usually by heredity

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

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

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

not auspicious; boding ill

From this reading Two brothers and a sister made at the same time a like inauspicious entrance upon an alien and fettered existence.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

someone in charge of other people

From this reading But the watchful keeper forestalled her.

past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

has a good chance of being the case or of coming about

From this reading Whelps of the great gray timber wolf, born in captivity, and therefore likely to be docile, were rare and precious.

filled or scattered with a disorderly accumulation of objects or rubbish

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

held dear

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Two brothers and a sister made at the same time a like inauspicious entrance upon an alien and fettered existence.

in a compassionate manner

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

plural of “mouth” — the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

make or become more narrow or restricted

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for

From this reading Whelps of the great gray timber wolf, born in captivity, and therefore likely to be docile, were rare and precious.

any competition

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness

From this reading Whelps of the great gray timber wolf, born in captivity, and therefore likely to be docile, were rare and precious.

Identical; not different.

From this reading Two brothers and a sister made at the same time a like inauspicious entrance upon an alien and fettered existence.

in a vicious manner

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

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

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

marked by absence of sound

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading Two brothers and a sister made at the same time a like inauspicious entrance upon an alien and fettered existence.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

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

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

for that reason; as a result

From this reading Whelps of the great gray timber wolf, born in captivity, and therefore likely to be docile, were rare and precious.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material

From this reading Whelps of the great gray timber wolf, born in captivity, and therefore likely to be docile, were rare and precious.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Two brothers and a sister made at the same time a like inauspicious entrance upon an alien and fettered existence.

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

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Two brothers and a sister made at the same time a like inauspicious entrance upon an alien and fettered existence.

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

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Two brothers and a sister made at the same time a like inauspicious entrance upon an alien and fettered existence.

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

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

engaged in or accustomed to close observation

From this reading But the watchful keeper forestalled her.

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

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

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

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

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

From this reading Whelps of the great gray timber wolf, born in captivity, and therefore likely to be docile, were rare and precious.

during the time that

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Not, like his grim ancestors for a thousand generations, in some dark cave of the hills was he whelped, but in a narrow iron cage littered with straw.

any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs

From this reading Whelps of the great gray timber wolf, born in captivity, and therefore likely to be docile, were rare and precious.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading And because their silent, untamable mother loved too savagely the hereditary freedom of her race to endure the thought of bearing her young into a life of bondage, she would have killed them mercifully, even while their blind baby mouths were groping for her breasts.