Chapter II

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

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

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

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

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

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

weapons considered collectively

From this reading But the baby stroked the quiet cheeks, whilst chuckling and kicking in Meg's arms, and shouted, 'Mam! mam! mam!' until she caught it away, and pressing it tightly to her bosom, sat down on the floor by the bed, weeping.

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

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Meg cried bitterly at first; but there was Robin to be comforted, and the baby to be played with when it laughed and crowed in her face.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading But the baby stroked the quiet cheeks, whilst chuckling and kicking in Meg's arms, and shouted, 'Mam! mam! mam!' until she caught it away, and pressing it tightly to her bosom, sat down on the floor by the bed, weeping.

an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

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

From this reading Meg cried bitterly at first; but there was Robin to be comforted, and the baby to be played with when it laughed and crowed in her face.

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

From this reading Meg cried bitterly at first; but there was Robin to be comforted, and the baby to be played with when it laughed and crowed in her face.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading But the baby stroked the quiet cheeks, whilst chuckling and kicking in Meg's arms, and shouted, 'Mam! mam! mam!' until she caught it away, and pressing it tightly to her bosom, sat down on the floor by the bed, weeping.

space by the side of a bed (especially the bed of a sick or dying person)

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

with bitterness; in a resentful manner

From this reading Meg cried bitterly at first; but there was Robin to be comforted, and the baby to be played with when it laughed and crowed in her face.

the chest considered as the place where secret thoughts are kept

From this reading But the baby stroked the quiet cheeks, whilst chuckling and kicking in Meg's arms, and shouted, 'Mam! mam! mam!' until she caught it away, and pressing it tightly to her bosom, sat down on the floor by the bed, weeping.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Meg cried bitterly at first; but there was Robin to be comforted, and the baby to be played with when it laughed and crowed in her face.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading But the baby stroked the quiet cheeks, whilst chuckling and kicking in Meg's arms, and shouted, 'Mam! mam! mam!' until she caught it away, and pressing it tightly to her bosom, sat down on the floor by the bed, weeping.

a tract of land used for burials

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes

From this reading But the baby stroked the quiet cheeks, whilst chuckling and kicking in Meg's arms, and shouted, 'Mam! mam! mam!' until she caught it away, and pressing it tightly to her bosom, sat down on the floor by the bed, weeping.

indicating a lack of maturity

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

-ing form of “chuckle” — laugh quietly or with restraint

From this reading But the baby stroked the quiet cheeks, whilst chuckling and kicking in Meg's arms, and shouted, 'Mam! mam! mam!' until she caught it away, and pressing it tightly to her bosom, sat down on the floor by the bed, weeping.

made comfortable or more comfortable in a time of distress

From this reading Meg cried bitterly at first; but there was Robin to be comforted, and the baby to be played with when it laughed and crowed in her face.

the dead body of a human being

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading Meg cried bitterly at first; but there was Robin to be comforted, and the baby to be played with when it laughed and crowed in her face.

past form of “crow” — dwell on with satisfaction

From this reading Meg cried bitterly at first; but there was Robin to be comforted, and the baby to be played with when it laughed and crowed in her face.

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

the extent downward or backward or inward

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

separated in space or coming from or going to a distance

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

causing fear or dread or terror

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

plural of “dwelling” — housing that someone is living in

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

the boundary of a surface

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

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

From this reading Meg cried bitterly at first; but there was Robin to be comforted, and the baby to be played with when it laughed and crowed in her face.

well known or easily recognized

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Meg cried bitterly at first; but there was Robin to be comforted, and the baby to be played with when it laughed and crowed in her face.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading But the baby stroked the quiet cheeks, whilst chuckling and kicking in Meg's arms, and shouted, 'Mam! mam! mam!' until she caught it away, and pressing it tightly to her bosom, sat down on the floor by the bed, weeping.

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

at or to or toward the front

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

past form of “gain” — obtain

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

destroyed or killed

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

death of a person

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

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

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

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

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

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

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

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

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

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

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Meg cried bitterly at first; but there was Robin to be comforted, and the baby to be played with when it laughed and crowed in her face.

a rhythmic thrusting movement of the legs as in swimming or calisthenics

From this reading But the baby stroked the quiet cheeks, whilst chuckling and kicking in Meg's arms, and shouted, 'Mam! mam! mam!' until she caught it away, and pressing it tightly to her bosom, sat down on the floor by the bed, weeping.

the act of caressing with the lips (or an instance thereof)

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

rest one's weight on one's knees

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

immediately past

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

past form of “laugh” — produce laughter

From this reading Meg cried bitterly at first; but there was Robin to be comforted, and the baby to be played with when it laughed and crowed in her face.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

held up in the air

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

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

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

a member of a Mayan people of southwestern Guatemala

From this reading But the baby stroked the quiet cheeks, whilst chuckling and kicking in Meg's arms, and shouted, 'Mam! mam! mam!' until she caught it away, and pressing it tightly to her bosom, sat down on the floor by the bed, weeping.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

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

From this reading But the baby stroked the quiet cheeks, whilst chuckling and kicking in Meg's arms, and shouted, 'Mam! mam! mam!' until she caught it away, and pressing it tightly to her bosom, sat down on the floor by the bed, weeping.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

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

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

not in physical motion

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

a person who is feeling grief (as grieving over someone who has died)

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

past form of “peep” — look furtively

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

(of games) engaged in

From this reading Meg cried bitterly at first; but there was Robin to be comforted, and the baby to be played with when it laughed and crowed in her face.

the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure

From this reading But the baby stroked the quiet cheeks, whilst chuckling and kicking in Meg's arms, and shouted, 'Mam! mam! mam!' until she caught it away, and pressing it tightly to her bosom, sat down on the floor by the bed, weeping.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading But the baby stroked the quiet cheeks, whilst chuckling and kicking in Meg's arms, and shouted, 'Mam! mam! mam!' until she caught it away, and pressing it tightly to her bosom, sat down on the floor by the bed, weeping.

small Old World songbird with a reddish breast

From this reading Meg cried bitterly at first; but there was Robin to be comforted, and the baby to be played with when it laughed and crowed in her face.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

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

From this reading But the baby stroked the quiet cheeks, whilst chuckling and kicking in Meg's arms, and shouted, 'Mam! mam! mam!' until she caught it away, and pressing it tightly to her bosom, sat down on the floor by the bed, weeping.

only a very short time before

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

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

From this reading But the baby stroked the quiet cheeks, whilst chuckling and kicking in Meg's arms, and shouted, 'Mam! mam! mam!' until she caught it away, and pressing it tightly to her bosom, sat down on the floor by the bed, weeping.

in a vehement outcry

From this reading But the baby stroked the quiet cheeks, whilst chuckling and kicking in Meg's arms, and shouted, 'Mam! mam! mam!' until she caught it away, and pressing it tightly to her bosom, sat down on the floor by the bed, weeping.

wither, as with a loss of moisture

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

an instance of visual perception

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

marked by absence of sound

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

past form of “stroke” — touch lightly and repeatedly, as with brushing motions

From this reading But the baby stroked the quiet cheeks, whilst chuckling and kicking in Meg's arms, and shouted, 'Mam! mam! mam!' until she caught it away, and pressing it tightly to her bosom, sat down on the floor by the bed, weeping.

having a sunken area

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

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

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Meg cried bitterly at first; but there was Robin to be comforted, and the baby to be played with when it laughed and crowed in her face.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

in a tight or constricted manner

From this reading But the baby stroked the quiet cheeks, whilst chuckling and kicking in Meg's arms, and shouted, 'Mam! mam! mam!' until she caught it away, and pressing it tightly to her bosom, sat down on the floor by the bed, weeping.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

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

From this reading Meg cried bitterly at first; but there was Robin to be comforted, and the baby to be played with when it laughed and crowed in her face.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

a group of soldiers

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

up to a particular time

From this reading But the baby stroked the quiet cheeks, whilst chuckling and kicking in Meg's arms, and shouted, 'Mam! mam! mam!' until she caught it away, and pressing it tightly to her bosom, sat down on the floor by the bed, weeping.

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

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

not clearly expressed or understood

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

precisely as stated

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

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

From this reading Meg cried bitterly at first; but there was Robin to be comforted, and the baby to be played with when it laughed and crowed in her face.

showing sorrow

From this reading But the baby stroked the quiet cheeks, whilst chuckling and kicking in Meg's arms, and shouted, 'Mam! mam! mam!' until she caught it away, and pressing it tightly to her bosom, sat down on the floor by the bed, weeping.

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

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.

at the time that

From this reading Meg cried bitterly at first; but there was Robin to be comforted, and the baby to be played with when it laughed and crowed in her face.

in or at the place that

From this reading Little Meg as a Mourner For the next day, and the night following, the corpse of the mother lay silent and motionless in the room where her three children were living.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

an old and formal word for “while”

From this reading But the baby stroked the quiet cheeks, whilst chuckling and kicking in Meg's arms, and shouted, 'Mam! mam! mam!' until she caught it away, and pressing it tightly to her bosom, sat down on the floor by the bed, weeping.

comparative of “white” — being of the achromatic color of maximum lightness; having little or no hue owing to reflection of almost all incident light

From this reading When little Meg told him mother was dead, and lifted him up to kneel on the bedside and kiss her icy lips for the last time, his childish heart was filled with an awe which almost made him shrink from the sight of that familiar face, scarcely whiter or more sunken now than it had been for many a day past.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Meg cried bitterly at first; but there was Robin to be comforted, and the baby to be played with when it laughed and crowed in her face.

a late time of life

From this reading Robin was nearly six years old, and had gained a vague, dim knowledge of death by having followed, with a troop of other curious children, many a funeral that had gone out from the dense and dirty dwellings to the distant cemetery, where he had crept forward to the edge of the grave, and peeped down into what seemed to him a very dark and dreadful depth.