Chapter XXVII · Chapter 27

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

From this reading BOY SKINNER A pale winter moon nestled among the snow clouds in the storm country.

(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 Inside, all was quiet.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading BOY SKINNER A pale winter moon nestled among the snow clouds in the storm country.

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

From this reading The shacks of the squatter settlement were dark and silent, save for a slender little light glimmering from the side of the curtains of the Skinner shanty.

a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

possessive form of “baby” — a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

large or big relative to something else

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

a youthful male person

From this reading BOY SKINNER A pale winter moon nestled among the snow clouds in the storm country.

the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible

From this reading BOY SKINNER A pale winter moon nestled among the snow clouds in the storm country.

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

From this reading Mother Moll had come and gone.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading BOY SKINNER A pale winter moon nestled among the snow clouds in the storm country.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

plural of “curl” — a round shape formed by a series of concentric circles (as formed by leaves or flower petals)

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)

From this reading The shacks of the squatter settlement were dark and silent, save for a slender little light glimmering from the side of the curtains of the Skinner shanty.

slightly wet

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading The shacks of the squatter settlement were dark and silent, save for a slender little light glimmering from the side of the curtains of the Skinner shanty.

(plural) the deepest and most remote part

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The shacks of the squatter settlement were dark and silent, save for a slender little light glimmering from the side of the curtains of the Skinner shanty.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The shacks of the squatter settlement were dark and silent, save for a slender little light glimmering from the side of the curtains of the Skinner shanty.

a young female

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

a slight suggestion or vague understanding

From this reading The shacks of the squatter settlement were dark and silent, save for a slender little light glimmering from the side of the curtains of the Skinner shanty.

destroyed or killed

From this reading Mother Moll had come and gone.

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

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

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

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

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

From this reading BOY SKINNER A pale winter moon nestled among the snow clouds in the storm country.

relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

From this reading Inside, all was quiet.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading The shacks of the squatter settlement were dark and silent, save for a slender little light glimmering from the side of the curtains of the Skinner shanty.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The shacks of the squatter settlement were dark and silent, save for a slender little light glimmering from the side of the curtains of the Skinner shanty.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

any amazing or wonderful occurrence

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

plural of “miracle” — any amazing or wonderful occurrence

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

the girlfriend of a gangster

From this reading Mother Moll had come and gone.

the natural satellite of the Earth

From this reading BOY SKINNER A pale winter moon nestled among the snow clouds in the storm country.

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

From this reading Mother Moll had come and gone.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

drawn or pressed close to someone or something for or as if for affection or protection

From this reading BOY SKINNER A pale winter moon nestled among the snow clouds in the storm country.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

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

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The shacks of the squatter settlement were dark and silent, save for a slender little light glimmering from the side of the curtains of the Skinner shanty.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

very light colored; highly diluted with white

From this reading BOY SKINNER A pale winter moon nestled among the snow clouds in the storm country.

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

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading Inside, all was quiet.

except for; apart from

From this reading The shacks of the squatter settlement were dark and silent, save for a slender little light glimmering from the side of the curtains of the Skinner shanty.

a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government

From this reading The shacks of the squatter settlement were dark and silent, save for a slender little light glimmering from the side of the curtains of the Skinner shanty.

plural of “shack” — small crude shelter used as a dwelling

From this reading The shacks of the squatter settlement were dark and silent, save for a slender little light glimmering from the side of the curtains of the Skinner shanty.

plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

small crude shelter used as a dwelling

From this reading The shacks of the squatter settlement were dark and silent, save for a slender little light glimmering from the side of the curtains of the Skinner shanty.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading The shacks of the squatter settlement were dark and silent, save for a slender little light glimmering from the side of the curtains of the Skinner shanty.

marked by absence of sound

From this reading The shacks of the squatter settlement were dark and silent, save for a slender little light glimmering from the side of the curtains of the Skinner shanty.

United States actor (1858-1942)

From this reading BOY SKINNER A pale winter moon nestled among the snow clouds in the storm country.

being of delicate or slender build

From this reading The shacks of the squatter settlement were dark and silent, save for a slender little light glimmering from the side of the curtains of the Skinner shanty.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading BOY SKINNER A pale winter moon nestled among the snow clouds in the storm country.

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

a male human offspring

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

someone who settles lawfully on government land with the intent to acquire title to it

From this reading The shacks of the squatter settlement were dark and silent, save for a slender little light glimmering from the side of the curtains of the Skinner shanty.

behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

From this reading BOY SKINNER A pale winter moon nestled among the snow clouds in the storm country.

past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

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

From this reading BOY SKINNER A pale winter moon nestled among the snow clouds in the storm country.

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

precisely as stated

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.

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

From this reading Inside, all was quiet.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The shacks of the squatter settlement were dark and silent, save for a slender little light glimmering from the side of the curtains of the Skinner shanty.

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading BOY SKINNER A pale winter moon nestled among the snow clouds in the storm country.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The squatter girl had been in the valley of shadows, and had struggled back from its depths, bringing with her that miracle of miracles, a son, a little son not much bigger than the hand of a man; and, now, pillowed on her arm, very near her heart, lay a small head, a baby's head, covered with soft, damp curls.