used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Many a woman who complains of "coldness" and "lost love" might trace it back to the day her husband's mother died, and to the sudden flash of insight, the adjustment of relation, which comes with death.
adjustmentnounUS /əˈdʒʌstmənt/
making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances
From this reading Many a woman who complains of "coldness" and "lost love" might trace it back to the day her husband's mother died, and to the sudden flash of insight, the adjustment of relation, which comes with death.
(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 [Sidenote: The Awakening] To most men the awakening comes too late if it comes at all.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading [Sidenote: The Awakening] To most men the awakening comes too late if it comes at all.
AwakeningnounUS /əˈweɪkənɪŋ/
the act of waking
From this reading [Sidenote: The Awakening] To most men the awakening comes too late if it comes at all.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Many a woman who complains of "coldness" and "lost love" might trace it back to the day her husband's mother died, and to the sudden flash of insight, the adjustment of relation, which comes with death.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The comic papers have made the mother-in-law a thing to be dreaded.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
bitterestadjectiveUS /ˈbɪtərəst/
superlative of “bitter” — marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading With that first shock comes bitterest repentance--and he never forgives his wife.
put or pin the blame on
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
a youthful male person
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
coldnessnounUS /ˈkoʊldnəs/
the sensation produced by low temperatures
From this reading Many a woman who complains of "coldness" and "lost love" might trace it back to the day her husband's mother died, and to the sudden flash of insight, the adjustment of relation, which comes with death.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading [Sidenote: The Awakening] To most men the awakening comes too late if it comes at all.
comicadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmɪk/
arousing or provoking laughter
From this reading The comic papers have made the mother-in-law a thing to be dreaded.
complainsverbUS /kəmˈpleɪnz/
third-person singular of “complain” — express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness
From this reading Many a woman who complains of "coldness" and "lost love" might trace it back to the day her husband's mother died, and to the sudden flash of insight, the adjustment of relation, which comes with death.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Many a woman who complains of "coldness" and "lost love" might trace it back to the day her husband's mother died, and to the sudden flash of insight, the adjustment of relation, which comes with death.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Many a woman who complains of "coldness" and "lost love" might trace it back to the day her husband's mother died, and to the sudden flash of insight, the adjustment of relation, which comes with death.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading Many a woman who complains of "coldness" and "lost love" might trace it back to the day her husband's mother died, and to the sudden flash of insight, the adjustment of relation, which comes with death.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
dreadedadjectiveUS /ˈdredɪd/
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading The comic papers have made the mother-in-law a thing to be dreaded.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading With that first shock comes bitterest repentance--and he never forgives his wife.
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading Many a woman who complains of "coldness" and "lost love" might trace it back to the day her husband's mother died, and to the sudden flash of insight, the adjustment of relation, which comes with death.
past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
for a limitless time
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
forgivesverbUS /fərˈɡɪvz/
third-person singular of “forgive” — stop blaming or grant forgiveness
From this reading With that first shock comes bitterest repentance--and he never forgives his wife.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The comic papers have made the mother-in-law a thing to be dreaded.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With that first shock comes bitterest repentance--and he never forgives his wife.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading With that first shock comes bitterest repentance--and he never forgives his wife.
husband'snounUS /ˈhʌzbəndz/
possessive form of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading Many a woman who complains of "coldness" and "lost love" might trace it back to the day her husband's mother died, and to the sudden flash of insight, the adjustment of relation, which comes with death.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading [Sidenote: The Awakening] To most men the awakening comes too late if it comes at all.
insightnounUS /ˈɪnsaɪt/
clear or deep perception of a situation
From this reading Many a woman who complains of "coldness" and "lost love" might trace it back to the day her husband's mother died, and to the sudden flash of insight, the adjustment of relation, which comes with death.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading [Sidenote: The Awakening] To most men the awakening comes too late if it comes at all.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading [Sidenote: The Awakening] To most men the awakening comes too late if it comes at all.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Many a woman who complains of "coldness" and "lost love" might trace it back to the day her husband's mother died, and to the sudden flash of insight, the adjustment of relation, which comes with death.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading Many a woman who complains of "coldness" and "lost love" might trace it back to the day her husband's mother died, and to the sudden flash of insight, the adjustment of relation, which comes with death.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The comic papers have made the mother-in-law a thing to be dreaded.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Many a woman who complains of "coldness" and "lost love" might trace it back to the day her husband's mother died, and to the sudden flash of insight, the adjustment of relation, which comes with death.
joined in matrimony
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
the force of workers available
From this reading [Sidenote: The Awakening] To most men the awakening comes too late if it comes at all.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Many a woman who complains of "coldness" and "lost love" might trace it back to the day her husband's mother died, and to the sudden flash of insight, the adjustment of relation, which comes with death.
used to form the superlative
From this reading [Sidenote: The Awakening] To most men the awakening comes too late if it comes at all.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
mother-in-lawnounUS /ˈmʌðərɪnlɔː/
the mother of your spouse
From this reading The comic papers have made the mother-in-law a thing to be dreaded.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading With that first shock comes bitterest repentance--and he never forgives his wife.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
and nothing more
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading The comic papers have made the mother-in-law a thing to be dreaded.
an expression of approval and commendation
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
realisesverbUS /ˈriːəlaɪzɪz/
third-person singular of “realise” — earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together
From this reading Many a woman who complains of "coldness" and "lost love" might trace it back to the day her husband's mother died, and to the sudden flash of insight, the adjustment of relation, which comes with death.
repentancenounUS /rɪˈpentəns/
remorse for your past conduct
From this reading With that first shock comes bitterest repentance--and he never forgives his wife.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading With that first shock comes bitterest repentance--and he never forgives his wife.
Sidenote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Sidenote: The Awakening] To most men the awakening comes too late if it comes at all.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Many a woman who complains of "coldness" and "lost love" might trace it back to the day her husband's mother died, and to the sudden flash of insight, the adjustment of relation, which comes with death.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading With that first shock comes bitterest repentance--and he never forgives his wife.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading [Sidenote: The Awakening] To most men the awakening comes too late if it comes at all.
a special situation
From this reading The comic papers have made the mother-in-law a thing to be dreaded.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading [Sidenote: The Awakening] To most men the awakening comes too late if it comes at all.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading [Sidenote: The Awakening] To most men the awakening comes too late if it comes at all.
a just detectable amount
From this reading Many a woman who complains of "coldness" and "lost love" might trace it back to the day her husband's mother died, and to the sudden flash of insight, the adjustment of relation, which comes with death.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
at the time that
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Many a woman who complains of "coldness" and "lost love" might trace it back to the day her husband's mother died, and to the sudden flash of insight, the adjustment of relation, which comes with death.
which person or people
From this reading Many a woman who complains of "coldness" and "lost love" might trace it back to the day her husband's mother died, and to the sudden flash of insight, the adjustment of relation, which comes with death.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading With that first shock comes bitterest repentance--and he never forgives his wife.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With that first shock comes bitterest repentance--and he never forgives his wife.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Many a woman who complains of "coldness" and "lost love" might trace it back to the day her husband's mother died, and to the sudden flash of insight, the adjustment of relation, which comes with death.
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading Only when the faded eyes are closed and the worn hands folded forever; when "mother" is beyond the reach of praise or blame, her married boy realises what has been done.
