used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Gertrude then held out her arms for Minnie, and the child was surrendered to her.
animationnounUS /ˌænəˈmeɪʃən/
the condition of living or the state of being alive
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Gertrude then held out her arms for Minnie, and the child was surrendered to her.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
bendingnounUS /ˈbendɪŋ/
movement that causes the formation of a curve
From this reading Gertrude smiled reassuringly, and, bending, kissed her fondly.
uttered without voice
From this reading “Oh!” breathed the child, with a convulsive shudder, “was it a dreadful dream!
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Gertrude then held out her arms for Minnie, and the child was surrendered to her.
CLIFFORD
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CLIFFORD MEETS WILLIAM TEMPLE.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
convulsiveadjectiveUS /kənˈvʌlsɪv/
affected by involuntary jerky muscular contractions; resembling a spasm
From this reading “Oh!” breathed the child, with a convulsive shudder, “was it a dreadful dream!
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading “Oh!” breathed the child, with a convulsive shudder, “was it a dreadful dream!
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading “Oh!” breathed the child, with a convulsive shudder, “was it a dreadful dream!
an old word for “before”
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
fondlyadverbUS /ˈfɑːndli/
with fondness; with love
From this reading Gertrude smiled reassuringly, and, bending, kissed her fondly.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Gertrude then held out her arms for Minnie, and the child was surrendered to her.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
Gertrude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gertrude then held out her arms for Minnie, and the child was surrendered to her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
heavingnounUS /ˈhiːvɪŋ/
an upward movement (especially a rhythmical rising and falling)
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Gertrude then held out her arms for Minnie, and the child was surrendered to her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Gertrude then held out her arms for Minnie, and the child was surrendered to her.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Oh!” breathed the child, with a convulsive shudder, “was it a dreadful dream!
past form of “kiss” — touch with the lips or press the lips (against someone's mouth or other body part) as an expression of love, greeting, etc.
From this reading Gertrude smiled reassuringly, and, bending, kissed her fondly.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
MEETSnounUS /miːts/
plural of “meet” — a meeting at which a number of athletic contests are held
From this reading CLIFFORD MEETS WILLIAM TEMPLE.
Minnie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gertrude then held out her arms for Minnie, and the child was surrendered to her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading “Oh!” breathed the child, with a convulsive shudder, “was it a dreadful dream!
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Gertrude then held out her arms for Minnie, and the child was surrendered to her.
reassuringlyadverbUS /riəˈʃɜːrɪŋli/
in a reassuring manner
From this reading Gertrude smiled reassuringly, and, bending, kissed her fondly.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
shudderverbUS /ˈʃʌdər/
shake, as from cold
From this reading “Oh!” breathed the child, with a convulsive shudder, “was it a dreadful dream!
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Gertrude smiled reassuringly, and, bending, kissed her fondly.
successive (without a break)
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
surrenderedverbUS /sərˈendərd/
past form of “surrender” — give up or agree to forgo to the power or possession of another
From this reading Gertrude then held out her arms for Minnie, and the child was surrendered to her.
place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity
From this reading CLIFFORD MEETS WILLIAM TEMPLE.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Gertrude then held out her arms for Minnie, and the child was surrendered to her.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Gertrude then held out her arms for Minnie, and the child was surrendered to her.
in or at that place or location
From this reading She had begun to show signs of returning animation; there was already a little color in her lips, the heart was beating, the chest heaving slightly, and ere long she opened her eyes to find herself gazing straight into the familiar faces of her brother and friend.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Gertrude then held out her arms for Minnie, and the child was surrendered to her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Gertrude then held out her arms for Minnie, and the child was surrendered to her.
WILLIAM
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CLIFFORD MEETS WILLIAM TEMPLE.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Oh!” breathed the child, with a convulsive shudder, “was it a dreadful dream!
