used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If the child were precocious in a queer, matronly way, her clouded parentage and life at the Home were mainly responsible.
adoptedadjectiveUS /əˈdɑːptɪd/
acquired as your own by free choice
From this reading BENDING THE TWIG I The girl Madelaine had been within three weeks of her eleventh birthday when Mrs. Theddon adopted her from the Corpus-Christi Orphanage.
affectionateadjectiveUS /əˈfekʃənət/
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
how long something has existed
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
(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 She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If the child were precocious in a queer, matronly way, her clouded parentage and life at the Home were mainly responsible.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Like some unmarried women, Mrs. Theddon was full of theories as to how a child should be reared.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading If the child were precocious in a queer, matronly way, her clouded parentage and life at the Home were mainly responsible.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Like some unmarried women, Mrs. Theddon was full of theories as to how a child should be reared.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading BENDING THE TWIG I The girl Madelaine had been within three weeks of her eleventh birthday when Mrs. Theddon adopted her from the Corpus-Christi Orphanage.
BENDINGnounUS /ˈbendɪŋ/
movement that causes the formation of a curve
From this reading BENDING THE TWIG I The girl Madelaine had been within three weeks of her eleventh birthday when Mrs. Theddon adopted her from the Corpus-Christi Orphanage.
bigotedadjectiveUS /ˈbɪɡətɪd/
blindly and obstinately attached to some creed or opinion and intolerant toward others
From this reading Yet the woman was neither bigoted nor maudlin.
birthdaynounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪ/
an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading BENDING THE TWIG I The girl Madelaine had been within three weeks of her eleventh birthday when Mrs. Theddon adopted her from the Corpus-Christi Orphanage.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
a young person of either sex
From this reading If the child were precocious in a queer, matronly way, her clouded parentage and life at the Home were mainly responsible.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
cloudedadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdɪd/
made troubled or apprehensive or distressed in appearance
From this reading If the child were precocious in a queer, matronly way, her clouded parentage and life at the Home were mainly responsible.
Corpus-Christi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENDING THE TWIG I The girl Madelaine had been within three weeks of her eleventh birthday when Mrs. Theddon adopted her from the Corpus-Christi Orphanage.
coëducational
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
psychological suffering
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
eleventhadjectiveUS /ɪˈlevənθ/
coming next after the tenth and just before the twelfth in position
From this reading BENDING THE TWIG I The girl Madelaine had been within three weeks of her eleventh birthday when Mrs. Theddon adopted her from the Corpus-Christi Orphanage.
environmentnounUS /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/
the totality of surrounding conditions
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
feminineadjectiveUS /ˈfemənən/
associated with women and not with men
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
fiercelyadverbUS /ˈfɪrsli/
in a physically fierce manner
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading BENDING THE TWIG I The girl Madelaine had been within three weeks of her eleventh birthday when Mrs. Theddon adopted her from the Corpus-Christi Orphanage.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Like some unmarried women, Mrs. Theddon was full of theories as to how a child should be reared.
a young female
From this reading BENDING THE TWIG I The girl Madelaine had been within three weeks of her eleventh birthday when Mrs. Theddon adopted her from the Corpus-Christi Orphanage.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading BENDING THE TWIG I The girl Madelaine had been within three weeks of her eleventh birthday when Mrs. Theddon adopted her from the Corpus-Christi Orphanage.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading BENDING THE TWIG I The girl Madelaine had been within three weeks of her eleventh birthday when Mrs. Theddon adopted her from the Corpus-Christi Orphanage.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading If the child were precocious in a queer, matronly way, her clouded parentage and life at the Home were mainly responsible.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like some unmarried women, Mrs. Theddon was full of theories as to how a child should be reared.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading BENDING THE TWIG I The girl Madelaine had been within three weeks of her eleventh birthday when Mrs. Theddon adopted her from the Corpus-Christi Orphanage.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If the child were precocious in a queer, matronly way, her clouded parentage and life at the Home were mainly responsible.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If the child were precocious in a queer, matronly way, her clouded parentage and life at the Home were mainly responsible.
intenselyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtensli/
to a high degree; extremely; in high concentration or density
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading If the child were precocious in a queer, matronly way, her clouded parentage and life at the Home were mainly responsible.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Like some unmarried women, Mrs. Theddon was full of theories as to how a child should be reared.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
Madelaine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENDING THE TWIG I The girl Madelaine had been within three weeks of her eleventh birthday when Mrs. Theddon adopted her from the Corpus-Christi Orphanage.
mainlyadverbUS /ˈmeɪnli/
for the most part
From this reading If the child were precocious in a queer, matronly way, her clouded parentage and life at the Home were mainly responsible.
maternaladjectiveUS /məˈtɜːrnəl/
characteristic of a mother
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
matronlyadjectiveUS /ˈmeɪtrənli/
befitting or characteristic of a fully mature woman
From this reading If the child were precocious in a queer, matronly way, her clouded parentage and life at the Home were mainly responsible.
maudlinadjectiveUS /ˈmɔːdlɪn/
effusively or insincerely emotional
From this reading Yet the woman was neither bigoted nor maudlin.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading BENDING THE TWIG I The girl Madelaine had been within three weeks of her eleventh birthday when Mrs. Theddon adopted her from the Corpus-Christi Orphanage.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Yet the woman was neither bigoted nor maudlin.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Yet the woman was neither bigoted nor maudlin.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BENDING THE TWIG I The girl Madelaine had been within three weeks of her eleventh birthday when Mrs. Theddon adopted her from the Corpus-Christi Orphanage.
OrphanagenounUS /ˈɔːrfənədʒ/
the condition of being a child without living parents
From this reading BENDING THE TWIG I The girl Madelaine had been within three weeks of her eleventh birthday when Mrs. Theddon adopted her from the Corpus-Christi Orphanage.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
parentagenounUS /ˈperəntədʒ/
the state of being a parent
From this reading If the child were precocious in a queer, matronly way, her clouded parentage and life at the Home were mainly responsible.
precociousadjectiveUS /prɪˈkoʊʃəs/
characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude)
From this reading If the child were precocious in a queer, matronly way, her clouded parentage and life at the Home were mainly responsible.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading If the child were precocious in a queer, matronly way, her clouded parentage and life at the Home were mainly responsible.
rearedverbUS /rɪrd/
past form of “rear” — stand up on the hind legs, of quadrupeds
From this reading Like some unmarried women, Mrs. Theddon was full of theories as to how a child should be reared.
responsibleadjectiveUS /riˈspɑːnsəbəl/
worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable
From this reading If the child were precocious in a queer, matronly way, her clouded parentage and life at the Home were mainly responsible.
schoolsnounUS /skuːlz/
plural of “school” — an educational institution
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Like some unmarried women, Mrs. Theddon was full of theories as to how a child should be reared.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Like some unmarried women, Mrs. Theddon was full of theories as to how a child should be reared.
SpringfieldnounUS /ˈsprɪŋfiːld/
capital of the state of Illinois
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BENDING THE TWIG I The girl Madelaine had been within three weeks of her eleventh birthday when Mrs. Theddon adopted her from the Corpus-Christi Orphanage.
Theddon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENDING THE TWIG I The girl Madelaine had been within three weeks of her eleventh birthday when Mrs. Theddon adopted her from the Corpus-Christi Orphanage.
theoriesnounUS /ˈθɪriz/
plural of “theory” — a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena
From this reading Like some unmarried women, Mrs. Theddon was full of theories as to how a child should be reared.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading BENDING THE TWIG I The girl Madelaine had been within three weeks of her eleventh birthday when Mrs. Theddon adopted her from the Corpus-Christi Orphanage.
push forcefully
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Like some unmarried women, Mrs. Theddon was full of theories as to how a child should be reared.
TWIGverbUS /twɪɡ/
branch out in a twiglike manner
From this reading BENDING THE TWIG I The girl Madelaine had been within three weeks of her eleventh birthday when Mrs. Theddon adopted her from the Corpus-Christi Orphanage.
unmarriedadjectiveUS /ənˈmerid/
not married or related to the unmarried state
From this reading Like some unmarried women, Mrs. Theddon was full of theories as to how a child should be reared.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading If the child were precocious in a queer, matronly way, her clouded parentage and life at the Home were mainly responsible.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading BENDING THE TWIG I The girl Madelaine had been within three weeks of her eleventh birthday when Mrs. Theddon adopted her from the Corpus-Christi Orphanage.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If the child were precocious in a queer, matronly way, her clouded parentage and life at the Home were mainly responsible.
at the time that
From this reading BENDING THE TWIG I The girl Madelaine had been within three weeks of her eleventh birthday when Mrs. Theddon adopted her from the Corpus-Christi Orphanage.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She was intensely feminine and affectionate, fiercely maternal, all of which at first made for a certain distress when thrust out into the coëducational environment of the Springfield public schools with children of equal age.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading BENDING THE TWIG I The girl Madelaine had been within three weeks of her eleventh birthday when Mrs. Theddon adopted her from the Corpus-Christi Orphanage.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Yet the woman was neither bigoted nor maudlin.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Like some unmarried women, Mrs. Theddon was full of theories as to how a child should be reared.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet the woman was neither bigoted nor maudlin.
