used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading She had uttered shriek after shriek, cursing the doctor, cursing herself, tearing her hair and digging her nails into her flesh.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I am broken in two, mamma--I am broken in two," he repeated with anguish, while his mother, with trembling fingers sought to find what had caused his cry.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
anglenounUS /ˈæŋɡəl/
the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
anguishnounUS /ˈæŋɡwɪʃ/
extreme mental distress
From this reading "I am broken in two, mamma--I am broken in two," he repeated with anguish, while his mother, with trembling fingers sought to find what had caused his cry.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The schoolmistress had had a moment of animal and sublime anguish, the anguish of the wild beast that sees its young mutilated.
backbonenounUS /ˈbækboʊn/
a central cohesive source of support and stability
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The schoolmistress had had a moment of animal and sublime anguish, the anguish of the wild beast that sees its young mutilated.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading "I am broken in two, mamma--I am broken in two," he repeated with anguish, while his mother, with trembling fingers sought to find what had caused his cry.
calamitynounUS /kəˈlæməti/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading "I am broken in two, mamma--I am broken in two," he repeated with anguish, while his mother, with trembling fingers sought to find what had caused his cry.
a young person of either sex
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
cifosis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "I am broken in two, mamma--I am broken in two," he repeated with anguish, while his mother, with trembling fingers sought to find what had caused his cry.
cursingverbUS /ˈkɜːrsɪŋ/
-ing form of “curse” — utter obscenities or profanities
From this reading She had uttered shriek after shriek, cursing the doctor, cursing herself, tearing her hair and digging her nails into her flesh.
deareradjectiveUS /ˈdɪrər/
comparative of “dear” — dearly loved
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
deformverbUS /ˌdiːˈfɔːrm/
make formless
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
diggingnounUS /ˈdɪɡɪŋ/
the act of digging
From this reading She had uttered shriek after shriek, cursing the doctor, cursing herself, tearing her hair and digging her nails into her flesh.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading She had uttered shriek after shriek, cursing the doctor, cursing herself, tearing her hair and digging her nails into her flesh.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading "I am broken in two, mamma--I am broken in two," he repeated with anguish, while his mother, with trembling fingers sought to find what had caused his cry.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading "I am broken in two, mamma--I am broken in two," he repeated with anguish, while his mother, with trembling fingers sought to find what had caused his cry.
the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat
From this reading She had uttered shriek after shriek, cursing the doctor, cursing herself, tearing her hair and digging her nails into her flesh.
formingverbUS /ˈfɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “form” — create (as an entity)
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "I am broken in two, mamma--I am broken in two," he repeated with anguish, while his mother, with trembling fingers sought to find what had caused his cry.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading She had uttered shriek after shriek, cursing the doctor, cursing herself, tearing her hair and digging her nails into her flesh.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I am broken in two, mamma--I am broken in two," he repeated with anguish, while his mother, with trembling fingers sought to find what had caused his cry.
henceforthadverbUS /ˈhenˈsfɔːrθ/
from this time forth; from now on
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She had uttered shriek after shriek, cursing the doctor, cursing herself, tearing her hair and digging her nails into her flesh.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "I am broken in two, mamma--I am broken in two," he repeated with anguish, while his mother, with trembling fingers sought to find what had caused his cry.
humpverbUS /hʌmp/
round one's back by bending forward and drawing the shoulders forward
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I am broken in two, mamma--I am broken in two," he repeated with anguish, while his mother, with trembling fingers sought to find what had caused his cry.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I am broken in two, mamma--I am broken in two," he repeated with anguish, while his mother, with trembling fingers sought to find what had caused his cry.
indelibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdelɪbəl/
cannot be removed or erased
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She had uttered shriek after shriek, cursing the doctor, cursing herself, tearing her hair and digging her nails into her flesh.
irremediableadjectiveUS /ˌɪrɪˈmiːdiəbəl/
impossible to remedy or correct or redress
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was true!
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The schoolmistress had had a moment of animal and sublime anguish, the anguish of the wild beast that sees its young mutilated.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
informal terms for a mother
From this reading "I am broken in two, mamma--I am broken in two," he repeated with anguish, while his mother, with trembling fingers sought to find what had caused his cry.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
a particular point in time
From this reading The schoolmistress had had a moment of animal and sublime anguish, the anguish of the wild beast that sees its young mutilated.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading "I am broken in two, mamma--I am broken in two," he repeated with anguish, while his mother, with trembling fingers sought to find what had caused his cry.
mutilatedadjectiveUS /ˈmjuːtəleɪtəd/
having a part of the body crippled or disabled
From this reading The schoolmistress had had a moment of animal and sublime anguish, the anguish of the wild beast that sees its young mutilated.
nailsnounUS /neɪlz/
plural of “nail” — horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits
From this reading She had uttered shriek after shriek, cursing the doctor, cursing herself, tearing her hair and digging her nails into her flesh.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
outwardadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtwərd/
relating to physical reality rather than with thoughts or the mind
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
recurring again and again
From this reading "I am broken in two, mamma--I am broken in two," he repeated with anguish, while his mother, with trembling fingers sought to find what had caused his cry.
schoolmistressnoun
a woman schoolteacher (especially one regarded as strict)
From this reading The schoolmistress had had a moment of animal and sublime anguish, the anguish of the wild beast that sees its young mutilated.
plural of “see” — the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located
From this reading The schoolmistress had had a moment of animal and sublime anguish, the anguish of the wild beast that sees its young mutilated.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had uttered shriek after shriek, cursing the doctor, cursing herself, tearing her hair and digging her nails into her flesh.
shoulderblades
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
shrieknounUS /ʃriːk/
sharp piercing cry
From this reading She had uttered shriek after shriek, cursing the doctor, cursing herself, tearing her hair and digging her nails into her flesh.
softenedadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːfənd/
toned down
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
that is looked for
From this reading "I am broken in two, mamma--I am broken in two," he repeated with anguish, while his mother, with trembling fingers sought to find what had caused his cry.
sublimeadjectiveUS /səˈblaɪm/
inspiring awe
From this reading The schoolmistress had had a moment of animal and sublime anguish, the anguish of the wild beast that sees its young mutilated.
sunkadjectiveUS /sʌŋk/
doomed to extinction
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
tearingnounUS /ˈterɪŋ/
shedding tears
From this reading She had uttered shriek after shriek, cursing the doctor, cursing herself, tearing her hair and digging her nails into her flesh.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The schoolmistress had had a moment of animal and sublime anguish, the anguish of the wild beast that sees its young mutilated.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I am broken in two, mamma--I am broken in two," he repeated with anguish, while his mother, with trembling fingers sought to find what had caused his cry.
a shaky motion
From this reading "I am broken in two, mamma--I am broken in two," he repeated with anguish, while his mother, with trembling fingers sought to find what had caused his cry.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading It was true!
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading "I am broken in two, mamma--I am broken in two," he repeated with anguish, while his mother, with trembling fingers sought to find what had caused his cry.
communicated in words
From this reading She had uttered shriek after shriek, cursing the doctor, cursing herself, tearing her hair and digging her nails into her flesh.
vertebræ
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was true!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "I am broken in two, mamma--I am broken in two," he repeated with anguish, while his mother, with trembling fingers sought to find what had caused his cry.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading "I am broken in two, mamma--I am broken in two," he repeated with anguish, while his mother, with trembling fingers sought to find what had caused his cry.
which person or people
From this reading The backbone had bent outward, forming an angle on a level with his shoulderblades, the softened vertebræ had sunk and _cifosis_, the hump, the indelible mark of irremediable calamity, was to deform henceforth this child who was dearer to her than her life.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading The schoolmistress had had a moment of animal and sublime anguish, the anguish of the wild beast that sees its young mutilated.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "I am broken in two, mamma--I am broken in two," he repeated with anguish, while his mother, with trembling fingers sought to find what had caused his cry.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The schoolmistress had had a moment of animal and sublime anguish, the anguish of the wild beast that sees its young mutilated.
