used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
anew
From this reading The wet eyelids had lifted and the drowned eyes had come to life again in a brief glance of horror.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In bed they had turned their backs on each other, and she had the feeling that her mother shrank from her as from somebody unclean who had omitted to wash herself with prayer.
backsnounUS /bæks/
plural of “back” — the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
From this reading In bed they had turned their backs on each other, and she had the feeling that her mother shrank from her as from somebody unclean who had omitted to wash herself with prayer.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading She had got into bed straight from her undressing.
bird'snounUS /bɜːrdz/
possessive form of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
of short duration or distance
From this reading The wet eyelids had lifted and the drowned eyes had come to life again in a brief glance of horror.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The wet eyelids had lifted and the drowned eyes had come to life again in a brief glance of horror.
a special loved one
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Mamma had expected her to kneel down and pray.
drownedverbUS /draʊnd/
past form of “drown” — cover completely or make imperceptible
From this reading The wet eyelids had lifted and the drowned eyes had come to life again in a brief glance of horror.
dwarfedverbUS /dwɔːrft/
past form of “dwarf” — make appear small by comparison
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading In bed they had turned their backs on each other, and she had the feeling that her mother shrank from her as from somebody unclean who had omitted to wash herself with prayer.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
eiderdownnoun
a soft quilt usually filled with the down of the eider
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading Mamma had expected her to kneel down and pray.
eyelidsnounUS /ˈaɪlɪdz/
plural of “eyelid” — either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye
From this reading The wet eyelids had lifted and the drowned eyes had come to life again in a brief glance of horror.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The wet eyelids had lifted and the drowned eyes had come to life again in a brief glance of horror.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading In bed they had turned their backs on each other, and she had the feeling that her mother shrank from her as from somebody unclean who had omitted to wash herself with prayer.
finger-tips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She had got into bed straight from her undressing.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading The wet eyelids had lifted and the drowned eyes had come to life again in a brief glance of horror.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading She had got into bed straight from her undressing.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had got into bed straight from her undressing.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had got into bed straight from her undressing.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading In bed they had turned their backs on each other, and she had the feeling that her mother shrank from her as from somebody unclean who had omitted to wash herself with prayer.
intense and profound fear
From this reading The wet eyelids had lifted and the drowned eyes had come to life again in a brief glance of horror.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The wet eyelids had lifted and the drowned eyes had come to life again in a brief glance of horror.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She had got into bed straight from her undressing.
ivory-white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
kneelverbUS /niːl/
rest one's weight on one's knees
From this reading Mamma had expected her to kneel down and pray.
kneelingnounUS /ˈniːlɪŋ/
supporting yourself on your knees
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The wet eyelids had lifted and the drowned eyes had come to life again in a brief glance of horror.
held up in the air
From this reading The wet eyelids had lifted and the drowned eyes had come to life again in a brief glance of horror.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
informal terms for a mother
From this reading Mamma had expected her to kneel down and pray.
mattressnounUS /ˈmætrəs/
a large thick pad filled with resilient material and often incorporating coiled springs, used as a bed or part of a bed
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading In bed they had turned their backs on each other, and she had the feeling that her mother shrank from her as from somebody unclean who had omitted to wash herself with prayer.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
omittedverbUS /oʊˈmɪtəd/
inflected form of “omit” — prevent from being included or considered or accepted
From this reading In bed they had turned their backs on each other, and she had the feeling that her mother shrank from her as from somebody unclean who had omitted to wash herself with prayer.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
patternnounUS /ˈpætərn/
a perceptual structure
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading Mamma had expected her to kneel down and pray.
the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading In bed they had turned their backs on each other, and she had the feeling that her mother shrank from her as from somebody unclean who had omitted to wash herself with prayer.
proppedverbUS /prɑːpt/
inflected form of “prop” — support by placing against something solid or rigid
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had got into bed straight from her undressing.
shrankverbUS /ʃræŋk/
inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading In bed they had turned their backs on each other, and she had the feeling that her mother shrank from her as from somebody unclean who had omitted to wash herself with prayer.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
a person, without saying who
From this reading In bed they had turned their backs on each other, and she had the feeling that her mother shrank from her as from somebody unclean who had omitted to wash herself with prayer.
successive (without a break)
From this reading She had got into bed straight from her undressing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In bed they had turned their backs on each other, and she had the feeling that her mother shrank from her as from somebody unclean who had omitted to wash herself with prayer.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In bed they had turned their backs on each other, and she had the feeling that her mother shrank from her as from somebody unclean who had omitted to wash herself with prayer.
in or at that place or location
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In bed they had turned their backs on each other, and she had the feeling that her mother shrank from her as from somebody unclean who had omitted to wash herself with prayer.
a special situation
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
trailedverbUS /treɪld/
past form of “trail” — to lag or linger behind
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading In bed they had turned their backs on each other, and she had the feeling that her mother shrank from her as from somebody unclean who had omitted to wash herself with prayer.
uncleanadjectiveUS /ənˈkliːn/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading In bed they had turned their backs on each other, and she had the feeling that her mother shrank from her as from somebody unclean who had omitted to wash herself with prayer.
undressing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had got into bed straight from her undressing.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
washverbUS /wɑːʃ/
clean with some chemical process
From this reading In bed they had turned their backs on each other, and she had the feeling that her mother shrank from her as from somebody unclean who had omitted to wash herself with prayer.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading The wet eyelids had lifted and the drowned eyes had come to life again in a brief glance of horror.
which person or people
From this reading In bed they had turned their backs on each other, and she had the feeling that her mother shrank from her as from somebody unclean who had omitted to wash herself with prayer.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In bed they had turned their backs on each other, and she had the feeling that her mother shrank from her as from somebody unclean who had omitted to wash herself with prayer.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading On the other side of the mattress she had seen her mother's kneeling body like a dwarfed thing trailed there from the floor, and her hands propped up on the edge of the eiderdown, ivory-white against the red and yellow pattern, and her darling bird's head bowed to her finger-tips.
