used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And he went home and dashed off a savage mother with a green face thrusting a straw-coloured breast into the gaping red lips of a child.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And he went home and dashed off a savage mother with a green face thrusting a straw-coloured breast into the gaping red lips of a child.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading If a man loved his mother, it was because with her it was the easiest thing in the world to be intimate and frank and honest and without pretence of any kind.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If a man loved his mother, it was because with her it was the easiest thing in the world to be intimate and frank and honest and without pretence of any kind.
for the reason that
From this reading If a man loved his mother, it was because with her it was the easiest thing in the world to be intimate and frank and honest and without pretence of any kind.
confined by bonds
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading And he went home and dashed off a savage mother with a green face thrusting a straw-coloured breast into the gaping red lips of a child.
a young person of either sex
From this reading And he went home and dashed off a savage mother with a green face thrusting a straw-coloured breast into the gaping red lips of a child.
having gaps or spaces
From this reading And he went home and dashed off a savage mother with a green face thrusting a straw-coloured breast into the gaping red lips of a child.
a beloved person; used as terms of endearment
From this reading His mother was marvellous to him because she was his dearest friend, not because she had given him suck.
easiestadjectiveUS /ˈiːziəst/
superlative of “easy” — posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading If a man loved his mother, it was because with her it was the easiest thing in the world to be intimate and frank and honest and without pretence of any kind.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading And he went home and dashed off a savage mother with a green face thrusting a straw-coloured breast into the gaping red lips of a child.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading So much for maternity and the Madonnas!
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading If a man loved his mother, it was because with her it was the easiest thing in the world to be intimate and frank and honest and without pretence of any kind.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading His mother was marvellous to him because she was his dearest friend, not because she had given him suck.
gapingadjectiveUS /ˈɡeɪpɪŋ/
with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe
From this reading And he went home and dashed off a savage mother with a green face thrusting a straw-coloured breast into the gaping red lips of a child.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading His mother was marvellous to him because she was his dearest friend, not because she had given him suck.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading And he went home and dashed off a savage mother with a green face thrusting a straw-coloured breast into the gaping red lips of a child.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His mother was marvellous to him because she was his dearest friend, not because she had given him suck.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And he went home and dashed off a savage mother with a green face thrusting a straw-coloured breast into the gaping red lips of a child.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His mother was marvellous to him because she was his dearest friend, not because she had given him suck.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading And he went home and dashed off a savage mother with a green face thrusting a straw-coloured breast into the gaping red lips of a child.
not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent
From this reading If a man loved his mother, it was because with her it was the easiest thing in the world to be intimate and frank and honest and without pretence of any kind.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If a man loved his mother, it was because with her it was the easiest thing in the world to be intimate and frank and honest and without pretence of any kind.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
instinctiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪv/
unthinking; prompted by (or as if by) instinct
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
intimateadjectiveUS /ˈɪntəmət/
marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity
From this reading If a man loved his mother, it was because with her it was the easiest thing in the world to be intimate and frank and honest and without pretence of any kind.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading And he went home and dashed off a savage mother with a green face thrusting a straw-coloured breast into the gaping red lips of a child.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading If a man loved his mother, it was because with her it was the easiest thing in the world to be intimate and frank and honest and without pretence of any kind.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading And he went home and dashed off a savage mother with a green face thrusting a straw-coloured breast into the gaping red lips of a child.
held dear
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
Madonnas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So much for maternity and the Madonnas!
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
marvellousadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːrvələs/
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading His mother was marvellous to him because she was his dearest friend, not because she had given him suck.
maternitynounUS /məˈtɜːrnɪti/
the state of being pregnant; the period from conception to birth when a woman carries a developing fetus in her uterus
From this reading So much for maternity and the Madonnas!
milkyadjectiveUS /ˈmɪlki/
resembling milk in color; not clear
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading And he went home and dashed off a savage mother with a green face thrusting a straw-coloured breast into the gaping red lips of a child.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading So much for maternity and the Madonnas!
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And he went home and dashed off a savage mother with a green face thrusting a straw-coloured breast into the gaping red lips of a child.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading And he went home and dashed off a savage mother with a green face thrusting a straw-coloured breast into the gaping red lips of a child.
pretencenoun
a false or unsupportable quality
From this reading If a man loved his mother, it was because with her it was the easiest thing in the world to be intimate and frank and honest and without pretence of any kind.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading And he went home and dashed off a savage mother with a green face thrusting a straw-coloured breast into the gaping red lips of a child.
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading And he went home and dashed off a savage mother with a green face thrusting a straw-coloured breast into the gaping red lips of a child.
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So much for maternity and the Madonnas!
straw-colouredadjective
having the color of dry straw
From this reading And he went home and dashed off a savage mother with a green face thrusting a straw-coloured breast into the gaping red lips of a child.
suckverbUS /sʌk/
draw into the mouth by creating a practical vacuum in the mouth
From this reading His mother was marvellous to him because she was his dearest friend, not because she had given him suck.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And he went home and dashed off a savage mother with a green face thrusting a straw-coloured breast into the gaping red lips of a child.
a special situation
From this reading If a man loved his mother, it was because with her it was the easiest thing in the world to be intimate and frank and honest and without pretence of any kind.
thrustingnounUS /ˈθrʌstɪŋ/
a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)
From this reading And he went home and dashed off a savage mother with a green face thrusting a straw-coloured breast into the gaping red lips of a child.
bound or secured closely
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading And he went home and dashed off a savage mother with a green face thrusting a straw-coloured breast into the gaping red lips of a child.
which person or people
From this reading He knew how a man loved his mother, and it was not in that milky way, setting her above nature, she who was tied and bound to natural, instinctive, animal life.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And he went home and dashed off a savage mother with a green face thrusting a straw-coloured breast into the gaping red lips of a child.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading If a man loved his mother, it was because with her it was the easiest thing in the world to be intimate and frank and honest and without pretence of any kind.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading If a man loved his mother, it was because with her it was the easiest thing in the world to be intimate and frank and honest and without pretence of any kind.
