used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading When I was about three years old, something dreadful happened.
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading So, being a girl, I learned to play with broken tiles, and found them as good as gems.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
brought into existence
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading So, being a girl, I learned to play with broken tiles, and found them as good as gems.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
ChinesenounUS /tʃaɪˈniːz/
any of the Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in China; regarded as dialects of a single language (even though they are mutually unintelligible) because they share an ideographic writing system
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
clothedadjectiveUS /kloʊðd/
wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
a female human offspring
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading When I was about three years old, something dreadful happened.
one or the other of two
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
the male ruler of an empire
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
set up or found
From this reading So, being a girl, I learned to play with broken tiles, and found them as good as gems.
gemsnounUS /dʒemz/
plural of “gem” — art highly prized for its beauty or perfection
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
a young female
From this reading So, being a girl, I learned to play with broken tiles, and found them as good as gems.
the act of giving
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading When I was about three years old, something dreadful happened.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading So, being a girl, I learned to play with broken tiles, and found them as good as gems.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading So, being a girl, I learned to play with broken tiles, and found them as good as gems.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading When I was about three years old, something dreadful happened.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
and nothing more
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
OPIUMnounUS /ˈoʊpiəm/
an addictive narcotic extracted from seed capsules of the opium poppy
From this reading ORPHANED THROUGH OPIUM.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
ORPHANEDadjectiveUS /ˈɔːrfənd/
deprived of parents by death or desertion
From this reading ORPHANED THROUGH OPIUM.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
participate in games or sport
From this reading So, being a girl, I learned to play with broken tiles, and found them as good as gems.
plural of “play” — a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
prepareverbUS /priˈper/
make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
princelyadjectiveUS /ˈprɪnsli/
ostentatiously rich and superior in quality
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
a purple color or pigment
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
robesnounUS /roʊbz/
plural of “robe” — any loose flowing garment
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
sleepsnounUS /sliːps/
plural of “sleep” — a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So, being a girl, I learned to play with broken tiles, and found them as good as gems.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading When I was about three years old, something dreadful happened.
a male human offspring
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading So, being a girl, I learned to play with broken tiles, and found them as good as gems.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading When I was about three years old, something dreadful happened.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading ORPHANED THROUGH OPIUM.
tilenounUS /taɪl/
a flat thin rectangular slab (as of fired clay or rubber or linoleum) used to cover surfaces
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
tilesnounUS /taɪlz/
plural of “tile” — a flat thin rectangular slab (as of fired clay or rubber or linoleum) used to cover surfaces
From this reading So, being a girl, I learned to play with broken tiles, and found them as good as gems.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When I was about three years old, something dreadful happened.
at the time that
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
fermented juice (of grapes especially)
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
in the company of; together with
From this reading According to our Chinese books, when a son is born he sleeps on a bed, he is clothed in robes, he plays with gems, his cry is princely loud; as an emperor, he is clothed in purple, and he is the king of the home.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
wrappernounUS /ˈræpər/
a loose dressing gown for women
From this reading But when a daughter is born she sleeps on the ground, she is clothed in a wrapper, she plays with a tile; she cannot be either good or evil, and has only to prepare wine and food without giving any cause of grief to her parents.
a late time of life
From this reading When I was about three years old, something dreadful happened.
