used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But beneath the apparent caprice was a fine justice--for life was at last kind to Sheila through her son.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It is, perhaps, only after we have put many dreams and hopes behind us that we stumble upon life's real gift to us.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It is, perhaps, only after we have put many dreams and hopes behind us that we stumble upon life's real gift to us.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading But beneath the apparent caprice was a fine justice--for life was at last kind to Sheila through her son.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was as if, seeing that she held out her hands for gifts no longer, life capriciously resolved to thrust one upon her.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But beneath the apparent caprice was a fine justice--for life was at last kind to Sheila through her son.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading It is, perhaps, only after we have put many dreams and hopes behind us that we stumble upon life's real gift to us.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading But beneath the apparent caprice was a fine justice--for life was at last kind to Sheila through her son.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading As Eric grew older, there sprang up between them such a comradeship as, even in her gladdest moments of motherhood, Sheila had never foreseen.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But beneath the apparent caprice was a fine justice--for life was at last kind to Sheila through her son.
capricenounUS /kəˈpriːs/
a sudden desire
From this reading But beneath the apparent caprice was a fine justice--for life was at last kind to Sheila through her son.
capriciouslyadverbUS /kəˈprɪʃɪsli/
unpredictably
From this reading It was as if, seeing that she held out her hands for gifts no longer, life capriciously resolved to thrust one upon her.
comradeshipnoun
the quality of affording easy familiarity and sociability
From this reading As Eric grew older, there sprang up between them such a comradeship as, even in her gladdest moments of motherhood, Sheila had never foreseen.
plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep
From this reading It is, perhaps, only after we have put many dreams and hopes behind us that we stumble upon life's real gift to us.
Eric
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Eric grew older, there sprang up between them such a comradeship as, even in her gladdest moments of motherhood, Sheila had never foreseen.
divisible by two
From this reading As Eric grew older, there sprang up between them such a comradeship as, even in her gladdest moments of motherhood, Sheila had never foreseen.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading But beneath the apparent caprice was a fine justice--for life was at last kind to Sheila through her son.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And thus it happened for Sheila.
foreseenverbUS /ˌfɔːrˈsiːn/
inflected form of “foresee” — realize beforehand
From this reading As Eric grew older, there sprang up between them such a comradeship as, even in her gladdest moments of motherhood, Sheila had never foreseen.
something acquired without compensation
From this reading It is, perhaps, only after we have put many dreams and hopes behind us that we stumble upon life's real gift to us.
plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation
From this reading It was as if, seeing that she held out her hands for gifts no longer, life capriciously resolved to thrust one upon her.
gladdest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Eric grew older, there sprang up between them such a comradeship as, even in her gladdest moments of motherhood, Sheila had never foreseen.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading As Eric grew older, there sprang up between them such a comradeship as, even in her gladdest moments of motherhood, Sheila had never foreseen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As Eric grew older, there sprang up between them such a comradeship as, even in her gladdest moments of motherhood, Sheila had never foreseen.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading It was as if, seeing that she held out her hands for gifts no longer, life capriciously resolved to thrust one upon her.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading And thus it happened for Sheila.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It is, perhaps, only after we have put many dreams and hopes behind us that we stumble upon life's real gift to us.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading It was as if, seeing that she held out her hands for gifts no longer, life capriciously resolved to thrust one upon her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was as if, seeing that she held out her hands for gifts no longer, life capriciously resolved to thrust one upon her.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading It is, perhaps, only after we have put many dreams and hopes behind us that we stumble upon life's real gift to us.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It was as if, seeing that she held out her hands for gifts no longer, life capriciously resolved to thrust one upon her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As Eric grew older, there sprang up between them such a comradeship as, even in her gladdest moments of motherhood, Sheila had never foreseen.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is, perhaps, only after we have put many dreams and hopes behind us that we stumble upon life's real gift to us.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is, perhaps, only after we have put many dreams and hopes behind us that we stumble upon life's real gift to us.
the quality of being just or fair
From this reading But beneath the apparent caprice was a fine justice--for life was at last kind to Sheila through her son.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading But beneath the apparent caprice was a fine justice--for life was at last kind to Sheila through her son.
immediately past
From this reading But beneath the apparent caprice was a fine justice--for life was at last kind to Sheila through her son.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It was as if, seeing that she held out her hands for gifts no longer, life capriciously resolved to thrust one upon her.
life'snounUS /laɪfs/
possessive form of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It is, perhaps, only after we have put many dreams and hopes behind us that we stumble upon life's real gift to us.
for more time
From this reading It was as if, seeing that she held out her hands for gifts no longer, life capriciously resolved to thrust one upon her.
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 It is, perhaps, only after we have put many dreams and hopes behind us that we stumble upon life's real gift to us.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading As Eric grew older, there sprang up between them such a comradeship as, even in her gladdest moments of motherhood, Sheila had never foreseen.
motherhoodnounUS /ˈmʌðərhʊd/
the kinship relation between an offspring and the mother
From this reading As Eric grew older, there sprang up between them such a comradeship as, even in her gladdest moments of motherhood, Sheila had never foreseen.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading As Eric grew older, there sprang up between them such a comradeship as, even in her gladdest moments of motherhood, Sheila had never foreseen.
not any; not one
From this reading It was as if, seeing that she held out her hands for gifts no longer, life capriciously resolved to thrust one upon her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As Eric grew older, there sprang up between them such a comradeship as, even in her gladdest moments of motherhood, Sheila had never foreseen.
olderadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldər/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading As Eric grew older, there sprang up between them such a comradeship as, even in her gladdest moments of motherhood, Sheila had never foreseen.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was as if, seeing that she held out her hands for gifts no longer, life capriciously resolved to thrust one upon her.
and nothing more
From this reading It is, perhaps, only after we have put many dreams and hopes behind us that we stumble upon life's real gift to us.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was as if, seeing that she held out her hands for gifts no longer, life capriciously resolved to thrust one upon her.
by chance
From this reading It is, perhaps, only after we have put many dreams and hopes behind us that we stumble upon life's real gift to us.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It is, perhaps, only after we have put many dreams and hopes behind us that we stumble upon life's real gift to us.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading It is, perhaps, only after we have put many dreams and hopes behind us that we stumble upon life's real gift to us.
determined
From this reading It was as if, seeing that she held out her hands for gifts no longer, life capriciously resolved to thrust one upon her.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading It was as if, seeing that she held out her hands for gifts no longer, life capriciously resolved to thrust one upon her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was as if, seeing that she held out her hands for gifts no longer, life capriciously resolved to thrust one upon her.
Sheila
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And thus it happened for Sheila.
a male human offspring
From this reading But beneath the apparent caprice was a fine justice--for life was at last kind to Sheila through her son.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading As Eric grew older, there sprang up between them such a comradeship as, even in her gladdest moments of motherhood, Sheila had never foreseen.
stumbleverbUS /ˈstʌmbəl/
walk unsteadily
From this reading It is, perhaps, only after we have put many dreams and hopes behind us that we stumble upon life's real gift to us.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading As Eric grew older, there sprang up between them such a comradeship as, even in her gladdest moments of motherhood, Sheila had never foreseen.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It is, perhaps, only after we have put many dreams and hopes behind us that we stumble upon life's real gift to us.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But beneath the apparent caprice was a fine justice--for life was at last kind to Sheila through her son.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading As Eric grew older, there sprang up between them such a comradeship as, even in her gladdest moments of motherhood, Sheila had never foreseen.
in or at that place or location
From this reading As Eric grew older, there sprang up between them such a comradeship as, even in her gladdest moments of motherhood, Sheila had never foreseen.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading But beneath the apparent caprice was a fine justice--for life was at last kind to Sheila through her son.
push forcefully
From this reading It was as if, seeing that she held out her hands for gifts no longer, life capriciously resolved to thrust one upon her.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading And thus it happened for Sheila.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is, perhaps, only after we have put many dreams and hopes behind us that we stumble upon life's real gift to us.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading As Eric grew older, there sprang up between them such a comradeship as, even in her gladdest moments of motherhood, Sheila had never foreseen.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It is, perhaps, only after we have put many dreams and hopes behind us that we stumble upon life's real gift to us.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It is, perhaps, only after we have put many dreams and hopes behind us that we stumble upon life's real gift to us.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was as if, seeing that she held out her hands for gifts no longer, life capriciously resolved to thrust one upon her.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading It is, perhaps, only after we have put many dreams and hopes behind us that we stumble upon life's real gift to us.
