used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The dove begat a tiger who would like to have all creation fall a prey to his claws.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading I grew up amid the most chaste and tranquil surroundings.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It is difficult to imagine an existence in a setting so pure as mine.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It is difficult to imagine an existence in a setting so pure as mine.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
begatverbUS /bɪˈɡæt/
inflected form of “beget” — make (offspring) by reproduction
From this reading The dove begat a tiger who would like to have all creation fall a prey to his claws.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
brought into existence
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
make calm or still
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
chasteadjectiveUS /tʃeɪst/
morally pure (especially not having experienced sexual intercourse)
From this reading I grew up amid the most chaste and tranquil surroundings.
clawsnounUS /klɔːz/
plural of “claw” — sharp curved horny process on the toe of a bird or some mammals or reptiles
From this reading The dove begat a tiger who would like to have all creation fall a prey to his claws.
creationnounUS /kriˈeɪʃən/
the human act of creating
From this reading The dove begat a tiger who would like to have all creation fall a prey to his claws.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading It is difficult to imagine an existence in a setting so pure as mine.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
dovenounUS /dʌv/
any of numerous small pigeons
From this reading The dove begat a tiger who would like to have all creation fall a prey to his claws.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading It is difficult to imagine an existence in a setting so pure as mine.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading The dove begat a tiger who would like to have all creation fall a prey to his claws.
the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading I grew up amid the most chaste and tranquil surroundings.
come to pass
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The dove begat a tiger who would like to have all creation fall a prey to his claws.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The dove begat a tiger who would like to have all creation fall a prey to his claws.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading It is difficult to imagine an existence in a setting so pure as mine.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is difficult to imagine an existence in a setting so pure as mine.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The dove begat a tiger who would like to have all creation fall a prey to his claws.
social deportment
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It is difficult to imagine an existence in a setting so pure as mine.
used to form the superlative
From this reading I grew up amid the most chaste and tranquil surroundings.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
not one, and not any
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
and nothing more
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
preynounUS /preɪ/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading The dove begat a tiger who would like to have all creation fall a prey to his claws.
free of extraneous elements of any kind
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
resignedverbUS /rɪˈzaɪnd/
past form of “resign” — leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading It is difficult to imagine an existence in a setting so pure as mine.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It is difficult to imagine an existence in a setting so pure as mine.
a male human offspring
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
the environmental condition
From this reading I grew up amid the most chaste and tranquil surroundings.
tastesnounUS /teɪsts/
plural of “taste” — the sensation that results when taste buds in the tongue and throat convey information about the chemical composition of a soluble stimulus
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
tigernounUS /ˈtaɪɡər/
a fierce or audacious person
From this reading The dove begat a tiger who would like to have all creation fall a prey to his claws.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
tranquiladjectiveUS /ˈtræŋkwəl/
(of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves
From this reading I grew up amid the most chaste and tranquil surroundings.
transmittedadjectiveUS /trænˈsmɪtɪd/
occurring among members of a family usually by heredity
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading I grew up amid the most chaste and tranquil surroundings.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
at the time that
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
which person or people
From this reading The dove begat a tiger who would like to have all creation fall a prey to his claws.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
in the company of; together with
From this reading How does it happen that none of her calm, pure thoughts passed into my body with the blood she transmitted to me? and why must it be that I am the son of her flesh only, not of her mind?
wombnounUS /wuːm/
a hollow muscular organ in the pelvic cavity of females; contains the developing fetus
From this reading When I think of this, that I was born of a gentle, resigned mother, simple in her tastes and manners, I am surprised that I did not burst her womb when she was carrying me.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The dove begat a tiger who would like to have all creation fall a prey to his claws.
