used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I was a mother once," Ceres replied always; "and having nursed my own child, I know what other children need."
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading One night, therefore, she hid herself in the chamber where Ceres and the little prince were accustomed to sleep.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading "I was a mother once," Ceres replied always; "and having nursed my own child, I know what other children need."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I was a mother once," Ceres replied always; "and having nursed my own child, I know what other children need."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But Queen Metanira, as was very natural, had a great curiosity to know precisely what the nurse did to her child.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Ceres sat before the hearth with the child in her lap, and the firelight making her shadow dance upon the ceiling overhead.
blazenounUS /bleɪz/
a strong flame that burns brightly
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Queen Metanira, as was very natural, had a great curiosity to know precisely what the nurse did to her child.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading Ceres sat before the hearth with the child in her lap, and the firelight making her shadow dance upon the ceiling overhead.
CeresnounUS /ˈsɪriz/
(Roman mythology) goddess of agriculture; counterpart of Greek Demeter
From this reading "I was a mother once," Ceres replied always; "and having nursed my own child, I know what other children need."
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading One night, therefore, she hid herself in the chamber where Ceres and the little prince were accustomed to sleep.
a young person of either sex
From this reading "I was a mother once," Ceres replied always; "and having nursed my own child, I know what other children need."
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading "I was a mother once," Ceres replied always; "and having nursed my own child, I know what other children need."
chimneynounUS /ˈtʃɪmni/
a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
coalsnounUS /koʊlz/
plural of “coal” — fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
crumbledverbUS /ˈkrʌmbəld/
past form of “crumble” — fall apart
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading But Queen Metanira, as was very natural, had a great curiosity to know precisely what the nurse did to her child.
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading Ceres sat before the hearth with the child in her lap, and the firelight making her shadow dance upon the ceiling overhead.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But Queen Metanira, as was very natural, had a great curiosity to know precisely what the nurse did to her child.
embersnounUS /ˈembərz/
plural of “ember” — a hot fragment of wood or coal that is left from a fire and is glowing or smoldering
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
start firing a weapon
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
firelightnoun
the light of a fire (especially in a fireplace)
From this reading Ceres sat before the hearth with the child in her lap, and the firelight making her shadow dance upon the ceiling overhead.
flickeringadjectiveUS /ˈflɪkərɪŋ/
shining unsteadily
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
flingingverbUS /ˈflɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
glowingadjectiveUS /ˈɡloʊɪŋ/
highly enthusiastic
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading But Queen Metanira, as was very natural, had a great curiosity to know precisely what the nurse did to her child.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But Queen Metanira, as was very natural, had a great curiosity to know precisely what the nurse did to her child.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading "I was a mother once," Ceres replied always; "and having nursed my own child, I know what other children need."
hearthnounUS /hɑːrθ/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But Queen Metanira, as was very natural, had a great curiosity to know precisely what the nurse did to her child.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading One night, therefore, she hid herself in the chamber where Ceres and the little prince were accustomed to sleep.
inflected form of “hide” — prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading One night, therefore, she hid herself in the chamber where Ceres and the little prince were accustomed to sleep.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I was a mother once," Ceres replied always; "and having nursed my own child, I know what other children need."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One night, therefore, she hid herself in the chamber where Ceres and the little prince were accustomed to sleep.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "I was a mother once," Ceres replied always; "and having nursed my own child, I know what other children need."
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading Ceres sat before the hearth with the child in her lap, and the firelight making her shadow dance upon the ceiling overhead.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading One night, therefore, she hid herself in the chamber where Ceres and the little prince were accustomed to sleep.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Ceres sat before the hearth with the child in her lap, and the firelight making her shadow dance upon the ceiling overhead.
Metanira
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Queen Metanira, as was very natural, had a great curiosity to know precisely what the nurse did to her child.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading "I was a mother once," Ceres replied always; "and having nursed my own child, I know what other children need."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I was a mother once," Ceres replied always; "and having nursed my own child, I know what other children need."
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading But Queen Metanira, as was very natural, had a great curiosity to know precisely what the nurse did to her child.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading "I was a mother once," Ceres replied always; "and having nursed my own child, I know what other children need."
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading One night, therefore, she hid herself in the chamber where Ceres and the little prince were accustomed to sleep.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading But Queen Metanira, as was very natural, had a great curiosity to know precisely what the nurse did to her child.
nursedadjectiveUS /nɜːrst/
(of an infant) breast-fed
From this reading "I was a mother once," Ceres replied always; "and having nursed my own child, I know what other children need."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
on one occasion
From this reading "I was a mother once," Ceres replied always; "and having nursed my own child, I know what other children need."
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One night, therefore, she hid herself in the chamber where Ceres and the little prince were accustomed to sleep.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading "I was a mother once," Ceres replied always; "and having nursed my own child, I know what other children need."
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading Ceres sat before the hearth with the child in her lap, and the firelight making her shadow dance upon the ceiling overhead.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading "I was a mother once," Ceres replied always; "and having nursed my own child, I know what other children need."
preciselyadverbUS /prɪˈsaɪsli/
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading But Queen Metanira, as was very natural, had a great curiosity to know precisely what the nurse did to her child.
a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)
From this reading One night, therefore, she hid herself in the chamber where Ceres and the little prince were accustomed to sleep.
the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading But Queen Metanira, as was very natural, had a great curiosity to know precisely what the nurse did to her child.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "I was a mother once," Ceres replied always; "and having nursed my own child, I know what other children need."
ruddyadjectiveUS /ˈrʌdi/
inclined to a healthy reddish color often associated with outdoor life
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Ceres sat before the hearth with the child in her lap, and the firelight making her shadow dance upon the ceiling overhead.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Ceres sat before the hearth with the child in her lap, and the firelight making her shadow dance upon the ceiling overhead.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One night, therefore, she hid herself in the chamber where Ceres and the little prince were accustomed to sleep.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading One night, therefore, she hid herself in the chamber where Ceres and the little prince were accustomed to sleep.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But Queen Metanira, as was very natural, had a great curiosity to know precisely what the nurse did to her child.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading One night, therefore, she hid herself in the chamber where Ceres and the little prince were accustomed to sleep.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But Queen Metanira, as was very natural, had a great curiosity to know precisely what the nurse did to her child.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
precisely as stated
From this reading But Queen Metanira, as was very natural, had a great curiosity to know precisely what the nurse did to her child.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I was a mother once," Ceres replied always; "and having nursed my own child, I know what other children need."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading One night, therefore, she hid herself in the chamber where Ceres and the little prince were accustomed to sleep.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "I was a mother once," Ceres replied always; "and having nursed my own child, I know what other children need."
in or at the place that
From this reading One night, therefore, she hid herself in the chamber where Ceres and the little prince were accustomed to sleep.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a warm and ruddy light upon the walls.
