Chapter IX · Parting with the Child

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Mary Margaret Dillon was about to leave the Institution.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

weapons considered collectively

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading The young woman smiled; she was very weak and pallid yet, but the dimples would come around her mouth whenever she looked down upon the baby.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk

From this reading The young woman smiled; she was very weak and pallid yet, but the dimples would come around her mouth whenever she looked down upon the baby.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

shoot in one stroke under par

From this reading Poor young mother, if she could only look upon us now and see the child cuddling down in the bed like a birdie in its nest?”

highly favored or fortunate (as e.g. by divine grace)

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

a youthful male person

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

made or become different in nature or form

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

a young person of either sex

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

clothing in general

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading The young woman smiled; she was very weak and pallid yet, but the dimples would come around her mouth whenever she looked down upon the baby.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Poor young mother, if she could only look upon us now and see the child cuddling down in the bed like a birdie in its nest?”

affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs)

From this reading Poor young mother, if she could only look upon us now and see the child cuddling down in the bed like a birdie in its nest?”

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mary Margaret Dillon was about to leave the Institution.

plural of “dimple” — a chad that has been punched or dimpled but all four corners are still attached

From this reading The young woman smiled; she was very weak and pallid yet, but the dimples would come around her mouth whenever she looked down upon the baby.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Poor young mother, if she could only look upon us now and see the child cuddling down in the bed like a birdie in its nest?”

dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

plural of “garment” — an article of clothing

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

destroyed or killed

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

that which is pleasing or valuable or useful

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

a health facility where patients receive treatment

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Poor young mother, if she could only look upon us now and see the child cuddling down in the bed like a birdie in its nest?”

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

an organization founded and united for a specific purpose

From this reading Mary Margaret Dillon was about to leave the Institution.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Poor young mother, if she could only look upon us now and see the child cuddling down in the bed like a birdie in its nest?”

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

immediately past

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

go away from a place

From this reading Mary Margaret Dillon was about to leave the Institution.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading The young woman smiled; she was very weak and pallid yet, but the dimples would come around her mouth whenever she looked down upon the baby.

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

engage in

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mary Margaret Dillon was about to leave the Institution.

the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

From this reading Mary Margaret Dillon was about to leave the Institution.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

befitting a mother; warm and nurturing

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading The young woman smiled; she was very weak and pallid yet, but the dimples would come around her mouth whenever she looked down upon the baby.

possessive form of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young

From this reading Poor young mother, if she could only look upon us now and see the child cuddling down in the bed like a birdie in its nest?”

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Poor young mother, if she could only look upon us now and see the child cuddling down in the bed like a birdie in its nest?”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

and nothing more

From this reading Poor young mother, if she could only look upon us now and see the child cuddling down in the bed like a birdie in its nest?”

a child who has lost both parents

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

above and across; more than

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

abnormally deficient in color as suggesting physical or emotional distress

From this reading The young woman smiled; she was very weak and pallid yet, but the dimples would come around her mouth whenever she looked down upon the baby.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

an area that includes places where several people can sit

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

an instance of visual perception

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading The young woman smiled; she was very weak and pallid yet, but the dimples would come around her mouth whenever she looked down upon the baby.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Mary Margaret Dillon was about to leave the Institution.

in or at that place or location

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

very lively and profitable

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Mary Margaret Dillon was about to leave the Institution.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Poor young mother, if she could only look upon us now and see the child cuddling down in the bed like a birdie in its nest?”

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Poor young mother, if she could only look upon us now and see the child cuddling down in the bed like a birdie in its nest?”

precisely as stated

From this reading The young woman smiled; she was very weak and pallid yet, but the dimples would come around her mouth whenever she looked down upon the baby.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Mary Margaret Dillon was about to leave the Institution.

wanting in physical strength

From this reading The young woman smiled; she was very weak and pallid yet, but the dimples would come around her mouth whenever she looked down upon the baby.

at any time that; every time that

From this reading The young woman smiled; she was very weak and pallid yet, but the dimples would come around her mouth whenever she looked down upon the baby.

which person or people

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

in the company of; together with

From this reading She had dressed her boy with great care, changed the hospital clothes for her own garments, and came to make a last call at Catharine Lacy’s bed.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading The young woman smiled; she was very weak and pallid yet, but the dimples would come around her mouth whenever she looked down upon the baby.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The young woman smiled; she was very weak and pallid yet, but the dimples would come around her mouth whenever she looked down upon the baby.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

but in spite of that

From this reading The young woman smiled; she was very weak and pallid yet, but the dimples would come around her mouth whenever she looked down upon the baby.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Faix, but it’s goodness all over to see you lying there with the poor orphan in your arms, motherly as can be, though ye do look like a child yerself,” she said, seating herself at the foot of her young neighbor’s bed; “and it’s thriving so, wouldn’t it be a blessed sight to the mother, who is gone.