Chapter I

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

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

(of mail) marked with a destination

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

(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 (All this must be true, because Trif's husband, Phil Highwood, said so and continues to say it.)

make a more or less disguised reference to

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

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

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

give sanction to

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading BY JOHN HABBERTON AUTHOR OF "HELEN'S BABIES."

a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

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

From this reading BY JOHN HABBERTON AUTHOR OF "HELEN'S BABIES."

a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

the woman who guided Dante through Paradise in the Divine Comedy

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

for the reason that

From this reading (All this must be true, because Trif's husband, Phil Highwood, said so and continues to say it.)

third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading BY JOHN HABBERTON AUTHOR OF "HELEN'S BABIES."

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

patterned with alternating squares of color

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

a young person of either sex

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

without stop or interruption

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

third-person singular of “continue” — continue a certain state, condition, or activity

From this reading (All this must be true, because Trif's husband, Phil Highwood, said so and continues to say it.)

performance of moral or religious acts

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

English aristocrat who was the first wife of Prince Charles; her death in an automobile accident in Paris produced intense national mourning (1961-1997)

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

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

From this reading BY JOHN HABBERTON AUTHOR OF "HELEN'S BABIES."

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

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

possessive form of “helen” — (Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War

From this reading BY JOHN HABBERTON AUTHOR OF "HELEN'S BABIES."

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

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

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

From this reading (All this must be true, because Trif's husband, Phil Highwood, said so and continues to say it.)

a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading (All this must be true, because Trif's husband, Phil Highwood, said so and continues to say it.)

express or state indirectly

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

impossible to repress or control

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading (All this must be true, because Trif's husband, Phil Highwood, said so and continues to say it.)

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading BY JOHN HABBERTON AUTHOR OF "HELEN'S BABIES."

feeling or showing love and affection

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

a married woman (usually middle-aged with children) who is staid and dignified

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

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

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading (All this must be true, because Trif's husband, Phil Highwood, said so and continues to say it.)

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

a familiar name for a person (often a shortened version of a person's given name)

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading BY JOHN HABBERTON AUTHOR OF "HELEN'S BABIES."

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

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

and nothing more

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

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 Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

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

From this reading (All this must be true, because Trif's husband, Phil Highwood, said so and continues to say it.)

feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

mutual dealings or connections or communications among persons or groups

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

place restrictions on

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

legally valid

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

relating to or characteristic of people of Rome

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading (All this must be true, because Trif's husband, Phil Highwood, said so and continues to say it.)

marked by utter benignity; resembling or befitting an angel or saint

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

express in words

From this reading (All this must be true, because Trif's husband, Phil Highwood, said so and continues to say it.)

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

coming next after the sixth and just before the eighth in position

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

not in physical motion

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

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

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading (All this must be true, because Trif's husband, Phil Highwood, said so and continues to say it.)

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

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

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

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

From this reading (All this must be true, because Trif's husband, Phil Highwood, said so and continues to say it.)

the deliberate act of delaying and playing instead of working

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

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

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

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

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading (All this must be true, because Trif's husband, Phil Highwood, said so and continues to say it.)

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

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

under normal conditions

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

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

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Her parents and relations continued to allude to her as "the baby," and they might still be doing so had not certain of her deeds checked them, and compelled them to restrict themselves to her rightful name, which was Beatrice, and to her nickname, which was Trixy.

during the time that

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

From this reading Trixy was not a babe, for she had passed her seventh birthday and was as wise and irrepressible as the only child of a loving father and mother usually becomes.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading Trif was Trixy's mother, and did not entirely approve of the name by which she was oftenest addressed, for "Trif" seemed to imply something trifling, while the real Trif was a young matron as handsome and proud as Diana, and as good and earnest as the saintly Roman woman Tryphosa, for whom she was named.