used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To her a mother and child were mother and child whether they existed in the heart of Africa or in the Faubourg St. Germain.
AfricanounUS /ˈæfrəkɑː/
the second largest continent; located to the south of Europe and bordered to the west by the South Atlantic and to the east by the Indian Ocean
From this reading To her a mother and child were mother and child whether they existed in the heart of Africa or in the Faubourg St. Germain.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After tea she went home, secretly nursing her bruised heart.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To her a mother and child were mother and child whether they existed in the heart of Africa or in the Faubourg St. Germain.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She told her husband that no woman in the world had ever been called upon to endure so much.
bruisedverbUS /bruːzd/
past form of “bruise” — injure the underlying soft tissue or bone of
From this reading After tea she went home, secretly nursing her bruised heart.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Mrs. Tolliver understood none of this.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading She told her husband that no woman in the world had ever been called upon to endure so much.
a young person of either sex
From this reading To her a mother and child were mother and child whether they existed in the heart of Africa or in the Faubourg St. Germain.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading With her there were no shades of feeling, no variations of duty.
put up with something or somebody unpleasant
From this reading She told her husband that no woman in the world had ever been called upon to endure so much.
at any time
From this reading She told her husband that no woman in the world had ever been called upon to endure so much.
existedverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪstəd/
past form of “exist” — have an existence, be extant
From this reading To her a mother and child were mother and child whether they existed in the heart of Africa or in the Faubourg St. Germain.
Faubourgnoun
a New Orleans district lying outside the original city limits; used in combination with the names of various quarters of the city
From this reading To her a mother and child were mother and child whether they existed in the heart of Africa or in the Faubourg St. Germain.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading With her there were no shades of feeling, no variations of duty.
Germain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To her a mother and child were mother and child whether they existed in the heart of Africa or in the Faubourg St. Germain.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She told her husband that no woman in the world had ever been called upon to endure so much.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading To her a mother and child were mother and child whether they existed in the heart of Africa or in the Faubourg St. Germain.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading With her there were no shades of feeling, no variations of duty.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading After tea she went home, secretly nursing her bruised heart.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading She told her husband that no woman in the world had ever been called upon to endure so much.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading To her a mother and child were mother and child whether they existed in the heart of Africa or in the Faubourg St. Germain.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading To her a mother and child were mother and child whether they existed in the heart of Africa or in the Faubourg St. Germain.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading But Mrs. Tolliver understood none of this.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading She told her husband that no woman in the world had ever been called upon to endure so much.
not any; not one
From this reading With her there were no shades of feeling, no variations of duty.
not one, and not any
From this reading But Mrs. Tolliver understood none of this.
nursingnounUS /ˈnɜːrsɪŋ/
the work of caring for the sick or injured or infirm
From this reading After tea she went home, secretly nursing her bruised heart.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But Mrs. Tolliver understood none of this.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading To her a mother and child were mother and child whether they existed in the heart of Africa or in the Faubourg St. Germain.
secretlyadverbUS /ˈsiːkrɪtli/
in secrecy; not openly
From this reading After tea she went home, secretly nursing her bruised heart.
shadesnounUS /ʃeɪdz/
(plural) something that reminds you of someone or something
From this reading With her there were no shades of feeling, no variations of duty.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After tea she went home, secretly nursing her bruised heart.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She told her husband that no woman in the world had ever been called upon to endure so much.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To her a mother and child were mother and child whether they existed in the heart of Africa or in the Faubourg St. Germain.
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
From this reading After tea she went home, secretly nursing her bruised heart.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She told her husband that no woman in the world had ever been called upon to endure so much.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To her a mother and child were mother and child whether they existed in the heart of Africa or in the Faubourg St. Germain.
in or at that place or location
From this reading With her there were no shades of feeling, no variations of duty.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To her a mother and child were mother and child whether they existed in the heart of Africa or in the Faubourg St. Germain.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But Mrs. Tolliver understood none of this.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To her a mother and child were mother and child whether they existed in the heart of Africa or in the Faubourg St. Germain.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading She told her husband that no woman in the world had ever been called upon to endure so much.
Tolliver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Mrs. Tolliver understood none of this.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading But Mrs. Tolliver understood none of this.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading She told her husband that no woman in the world had ever been called upon to endure so much.
variationsnounUS /ˌveriˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “variation” — an instance of change; the rate or magnitude of change
From this reading With her there were no shades of feeling, no variations of duty.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading After tea she went home, secretly nursing her bruised heart.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading With her there were no shades of feeling, no variations of duty.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading To her a mother and child were mother and child whether they existed in the heart of Africa or in the Faubourg St. Germain.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With her there were no shades of feeling, no variations of duty.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading She told her husband that no woman in the world had ever been called upon to endure so much.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading She told her husband that no woman in the world had ever been called upon to endure so much.
