used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading LESSONS There was one lasting cloud upon a childhood spent as close to our mother as fledglings in a nest.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading LESSONS There was one lasting cloud upon a childhood spent as close to our mother as fledglings in a nest.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading Our mother was the most beautiful person we had ever seen.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading Even as quite young children we were dimly conscious of the touch of pathos in the beauty that is frail, as though we guessed it was never to grow old.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But this was not the cloud.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading For the presentiment was too undefined, it came in a guise too gentle to give us present uneasiness.
childhoodnounUS /ˈtʃaɪldhʊd/
the time of person's life when they are a child
From this reading LESSONS There was one lasting cloud upon a childhood spent as close to our mother as fledglings in a nest.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Even as quite young children we were dimly conscious of the touch of pathos in the beauty that is frail, as though we guessed it was never to grow old.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading LESSONS There was one lasting cloud upon a childhood spent as close to our mother as fledglings in a nest.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading LESSONS There was one lasting cloud upon a childhood spent as close to our mother as fledglings in a nest.
intentionally conceived
From this reading Even as quite young children we were dimly conscious of the touch of pathos in the beauty that is frail, as though we guessed it was never to grow old.
dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading Even as quite young children we were dimly conscious of the touch of pathos in the beauty that is frail, as though we guessed it was never to grow old.
divisible by two
From this reading Even as quite young children we were dimly conscious of the touch of pathos in the beauty that is frail, as though we guessed it was never to grow old.
at any time
From this reading Our mother was the most beautiful person we had ever seen.
fledglings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LESSONS There was one lasting cloud upon a childhood spent as close to our mother as fledglings in a nest.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the presentiment was too undefined, it came in a guise too gentle to give us present uneasiness.
frailadjectiveUS /freɪl/
physically weak
From this reading Even as quite young children we were dimly conscious of the touch of pathos in the beauty that is frail, as though we guessed it was never to grow old.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading For the presentiment was too undefined, it came in a guise too gentle to give us present uneasiness.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading For the presentiment was too undefined, it came in a guise too gentle to give us present uneasiness.
pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Even as quite young children we were dimly conscious of the touch of pathos in the beauty that is frail, as though we guessed it was never to grow old.
past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading Even as quite young children we were dimly conscious of the touch of pathos in the beauty that is frail, as though we guessed it was never to grow old.
guisenounUS /ɡaɪz/
an artful or simulated semblance
From this reading For the presentiment was too undefined, it came in a guise too gentle to give us present uneasiness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Our mother was the most beautiful person we had ever seen.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading LESSONS There was one lasting cloud upon a childhood spent as close to our mother as fledglings in a nest.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Even as quite young children we were dimly conscious of the touch of pathos in the beauty that is frail, as though we guessed it was never to grow old.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Even as quite young children we were dimly conscious of the touch of pathos in the beauty that is frail, as though we guessed it was never to grow old.
lastingadjectiveUS /ˈlæstɪŋ/
continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place
From this reading LESSONS There was one lasting cloud upon a childhood spent as close to our mother as fledglings in a nest.
LESSONSnounUS /ˈlesənz/
plural of “lesson” — a unit of instruction
From this reading LESSONS There was one lasting cloud upon a childhood spent as close to our mother as fledglings in a nest.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Our mother was the most beautiful person we had ever seen.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading LESSONS There was one lasting cloud upon a childhood spent as close to our mother as fledglings in a nest.
a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading LESSONS There was one lasting cloud upon a childhood spent as close to our mother as fledglings in a nest.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Even as quite young children we were dimly conscious of the touch of pathos in the beauty that is frail, as though we guessed it was never to grow old.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But this was not the cloud.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Even as quite young children we were dimly conscious of the touch of pathos in the beauty that is frail, as though we guessed it was never to grow old.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Even as quite young children we were dimly conscious of the touch of pathos in the beauty that is frail, as though we guessed it was never to grow old.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading LESSONS There was one lasting cloud upon a childhood spent as close to our mother as fledglings in a nest.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading LESSONS There was one lasting cloud upon a childhood spent as close to our mother as fledglings in a nest.
pathosnounUS /ˈpeɪθɑːs/
a quality that arouses emotions (especially pity or sorrow)
From this reading Even as quite young children we were dimly conscious of the touch of pathos in the beauty that is frail, as though we guessed it was never to grow old.
a human being
From this reading Our mother was the most beautiful person we had ever seen.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading For the presentiment was too undefined, it came in a guise too gentle to give us present uneasiness.
presentimentnoun
a feeling of evil to come
From this reading For the presentiment was too undefined, it came in a guise too gentle to give us present uneasiness.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Even as quite young children we were dimly conscious of the touch of pathos in the beauty that is frail, as though we guessed it was never to grow old.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Our mother was the most beautiful person we had ever seen.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading LESSONS There was one lasting cloud upon a childhood spent as close to our mother as fledglings in a nest.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Even as quite young children we were dimly conscious of the touch of pathos in the beauty that is frail, as though we guessed it was never to grow old.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Our mother was the most beautiful person we had ever seen.
in or at that place or location
From this reading LESSONS There was one lasting cloud upon a childhood spent as close to our mother as fledglings in a nest.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But this was not the cloud.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Even as quite young children we were dimly conscious of the touch of pathos in the beauty that is frail, as though we guessed it was never to grow old.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading LESSONS There was one lasting cloud upon a childhood spent as close to our mother as fledglings in a nest.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading For the presentiment was too undefined, it came in a guise too gentle to give us present uneasiness.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading Even as quite young children we were dimly conscious of the touch of pathos in the beauty that is frail, as though we guessed it was never to grow old.
undefinedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndɪˈfaɪnd/
not precisely limited, determined, or distinguished
From this reading For the presentiment was too undefined, it came in a guise too gentle to give us present uneasiness.
uneasinessnounUS /ˌʌˈniːzinəs/
feelings of anxiety that make you tense and irritable
From this reading For the presentiment was too undefined, it came in a guise too gentle to give us present uneasiness.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading LESSONS There was one lasting cloud upon a childhood spent as close to our mother as fledglings in a nest.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For the presentiment was too undefined, it came in a guise too gentle to give us present uneasiness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading LESSONS There was one lasting cloud upon a childhood spent as close to our mother as fledglings in a nest.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Our mother was the most beautiful person we had ever seen.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Even as quite young children we were dimly conscious of the touch of pathos in the beauty that is frail, as though we guessed it was never to grow old.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Even as quite young children we were dimly conscious of the touch of pathos in the beauty that is frail, as though we guessed it was never to grow old.
