used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Paul looked wistfully at his mother, hoping she would respond favorably to his last few words and tell him something about his father, whose picture hung over the piano, in the parlor.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading I have found out that my father is living, but why he is an exile from his home I know not, as you have always avoided telling me of him.”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I have found out that my father is living, but why he is an exile from his home I know not, as you have always avoided telling me of him.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
react verbally
From this reading The answer was always the same: “Paul, my darling son, your papa is gone, gone;” then would break out weeping violently.
any thing at all
From this reading She had taught him to love it and call it papa, yet would always avoid telling anything about him when Paul in childish prattle would say: “Mamma, where is my papa?”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I have found out that my father is living, but why he is an exile from his home I know not, as you have always avoided telling me of him.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Paul looked wistfully at his mother, hoping she would respond favorably to his last few words and tell him something about his father, whose picture hung over the piano, in the parlor.
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading She had taught him to love it and call it papa, yet would always avoid telling anything about him when Paul in childish prattle would say: “Mamma, where is my papa?”
avoidedverbUS /əˈvɔɪdɪd/
past form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading I have found out that my father is living, but why he is an exile from his home I know not, as you have always avoided telling me of him.”
terminate
From this reading The answer was always the same: “Paul, my darling son, your papa is gone, gone;” then would break out weeping violently.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I have found out that my father is living, but why he is an exile from his home I know not, as you have always avoided telling me of him.”
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading She had taught him to love it and call it papa, yet would always avoid telling anything about him when Paul in childish prattle would say: “Mamma, where is my papa?”
childishadjectiveUS /ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ/
indicating a lack of maturity
From this reading She had taught him to love it and call it papa, yet would always avoid telling anything about him when Paul in childish prattle would say: “Mamma, where is my papa?”
a special loved one
From this reading The answer was always the same: “Paul, my darling son, your papa is gone, gone;” then would break out weeping violently.
exileverbUS /ˈeɡzaɪl/
expel from a country
From this reading I have found out that my father is living, but why he is an exile from his home I know not, as you have always avoided telling me of him.”
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading I have found out that my father is living, but why he is an exile from his home I know not, as you have always avoided telling me of him.”
favorablyadverbUS /ˈfeɪvərəbli/
showing approval
From this reading Paul looked wistfully at his mother, hoping she would respond favorably to his last few words and tell him something about his father, whose picture hung over the piano, in the parlor.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Paul looked wistfully at his mother, hoping she would respond favorably to his last few words and tell him something about his father, whose picture hung over the piano, in the parlor.
set up or found
From this reading I have found out that my father is living, but why he is an exile from his home I know not, as you have always avoided telling me of him.”
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The answer was always the same: “Paul, my darling son, your papa is gone, gone;” then would break out weeping violently.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had taught him to love it and call it papa, yet would always avoid telling anything about him when Paul in childish prattle would say: “Mamma, where is my papa?”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I have found out that my father is living, but why he is an exile from his home I know not, as you have always avoided telling me of him.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I have found out that my father is living, but why he is an exile from his home I know not, as you have always avoided telling me of him.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I have found out that my father is living, but why he is an exile from his home I know not, as you have always avoided telling me of him.”
where you live at a particular time
From this reading I have found out that my father is living, but why he is an exile from his home I know not, as you have always avoided telling me of him.”
not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading Paul looked wistfully at his mother, hoping she would respond favorably to his last few words and tell him something about his father, whose picture hung over the piano, in the parlor.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Paul looked wistfully at his mother, hoping she would respond favorably to his last few words and tell him something about his father, whose picture hung over the piano, in the parlor.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Paul looked wistfully at his mother, hoping she would respond favorably to his last few words and tell him something about his father, whose picture hung over the piano, in the parlor.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I have found out that my father is living, but why he is an exile from his home I know not, as you have always avoided telling me of him.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
immediately past
From this reading Paul looked wistfully at his mother, hoping she would respond favorably to his last few words and tell him something about his father, whose picture hung over the piano, in the parlor.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading I have found out that my father is living, but why he is an exile from his home I know not, as you have always avoided telling me of him.”
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Paul looked wistfully at his mother, hoping she would respond favorably to his last few words and tell him something about his father, whose picture hung over the piano, in the parlor.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading She had taught him to love it and call it papa, yet would always avoid telling anything about him when Paul in childish prattle would say: “Mamma, where is my papa?”
informal terms for a mother
From this reading She had taught him to love it and call it papa, yet would always avoid telling anything about him when Paul in childish prattle would say: “Mamma, where is my papa?”
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I have found out that my father is living, but why he is an exile from his home I know not, as you have always avoided telling me of him.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I have found out that my father is living, but why he is an exile from his home I know not, as you have always avoided telling me of him.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I have found out that my father is living, but why he is an exile from his home I know not, as you have always avoided telling me of him.”
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Paul looked wistfully at his mother, hoping she would respond favorably to his last few words and tell him something about his father, whose picture hung over the piano, in the parlor.
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading She had taught him to love it and call it papa, yet would always avoid telling anything about him when Paul in childish prattle would say: “Mamma, where is my papa?”
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading Paul looked wistfully at his mother, hoping she would respond favorably to his last few words and tell him something about his father, whose picture hung over the piano, in the parlor.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading Paul looked wistfully at his mother, hoping she would respond favorably to his last few words and tell him something about his father, whose picture hung over the piano, in the parlor.
pianonounUS /piˈænoʊ/
a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds
From this reading Paul looked wistfully at his mother, hoping she would respond favorably to his last few words and tell him something about his father, whose picture hung over the piano, in the parlor.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading Paul looked wistfully at his mother, hoping she would respond favorably to his last few words and tell him something about his father, whose picture hung over the piano, in the parlor.
prattleverbUS /ˈprætəl/
speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
From this reading She had taught him to love it and call it papa, yet would always avoid telling anything about him when Paul in childish prattle would say: “Mamma, where is my papa?”
respondverbUS /rɪˈspɑːnd/
show a response or a reaction to something
From this reading Paul looked wistfully at his mother, hoping she would respond favorably to his last few words and tell him something about his father, whose picture hung over the piano, in the parlor.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
Identical; not different.
From this reading The answer was always the same: “Paul, my darling son, your papa is gone, gone;” then would break out weeping violently.
express in words
From this reading She had taught him to love it and call it papa, yet would always avoid telling anything about him when Paul in childish prattle would say: “Mamma, where is my papa?”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Paul looked wistfully at his mother, hoping she would respond favorably to his last few words and tell him something about his father, whose picture hung over the piano, in the parlor.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Paul looked wistfully at his mother, hoping she would respond favorably to his last few words and tell him something about his father, whose picture hung over the piano, in the parlor.
a male human offspring
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
inflected form of “teach” — impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading She had taught him to love it and call it papa, yet would always avoid telling anything about him when Paul in childish prattle would say: “Mamma, where is my papa?”
express in words
From this reading Paul looked wistfully at his mother, hoping she would respond favorably to his last few words and tell him something about his father, whose picture hung over the piano, in the parlor.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading I have found out that my father is living, but why he is an exile from his home I know not, as you have always avoided telling me of him.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I have found out that my father is living, but why he is an exile from his home I know not, as you have always avoided telling me of him.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The answer was always the same: “Paul, my darling son, your papa is gone, gone;” then would break out weeping violently.
there's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
having come into contact
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
violentlyadverbUS /ˈvaɪələntli/
in a violent manner
From this reading The answer was always the same: “Paul, my darling son, your papa is gone, gone;” then would break out weeping violently.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The answer was always the same: “Paul, my darling son, your papa is gone, gone;” then would break out weeping violently.
showing sorrow
From this reading The answer was always the same: “Paul, my darling son, your papa is gone, gone;” then would break out weeping violently.
at the time that
From this reading She had taught him to love it and call it papa, yet would always avoid telling anything about him when Paul in childish prattle would say: “Mamma, where is my papa?”
in or at the place that
From this reading She had taught him to love it and call it papa, yet would always avoid telling anything about him when Paul in childish prattle would say: “Mamma, where is my papa?”
belonging to which person
From this reading Paul looked wistfully at his mother, hoping she would respond favorably to his last few words and tell him something about his father, whose picture hung over the piano, in the parlor.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading I have found out that my father is living, but why he is an exile from his home I know not, as you have always avoided telling me of him.”
hope for; have a wish
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
wistfullyadverbUS /ˈwɪstfəli/
in a wistful manner
From this reading Paul looked wistfully at his mother, hoping she would respond favorably to his last few words and tell him something about his father, whose picture hung over the piano, in the parlor.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Paul looked wistfully at his mother, hoping she would respond favorably to his last few words and tell him something about his father, whose picture hung over the piano, in the parlor.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Paul looked wistfully at his mother, hoping she would respond favorably to his last few words and tell him something about his father, whose picture hung over the piano, in the parlor.
but in spite of that
From this reading She had taught him to love it and call it papa, yet would always avoid telling anything about him when Paul in childish prattle would say: “Mamma, where is my papa?”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading It touched the honest heart of her son, and he said: “Mother, I know there’s a great sorrow you wish to keep from me.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The answer was always the same: “Paul, my darling son, your papa is gone, gone;” then would break out weeping violently.
