Chapter I

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

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

(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 Dimpled fingers, and dimpled feet, What in the world is half so sweet As babies that jump, laugh, cry, and crawl, Eat, sleep, talk, walk, creep, coo, and all Wee Babies?

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

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

react verbally

From this reading Up you go baby, that’s the way— Laugh little baby, laugh and play— Little round dumpling, jump and coo, Mother will answer, and laugh with you; Dents, and dimples, and dear little feet, My little baby is, oh, so sweet.

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

From this reading Dimpled fingers, and dimpled feet, What in the world is half so sweet As babies that jump, laugh, cry, and crawl, Eat, sleep, talk, walk, creep, coo, and all Wee Babies?

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

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

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

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

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

From this reading Up you go baby, that’s the way— Laugh little baby, laugh and play— Little round dumpling, jump and coo, Mother will answer, and laugh with you; Dents, and dimples, and dear little feet, My little baby is, oh, so sweet.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

favorite

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading Horace and Maurice were so like each other— You hardly could tell the one from his brother.

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

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

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

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

speak softly or lovingly

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Horace and Maurice were so like each other— You hardly could tell the one from his brother.

move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading Dimpled fingers, and dimpled feet, What in the world is half so sweet As babies that jump, laugh, cry, and crawl, Eat, sleep, talk, walk, creep, coo, and all Wee Babies?

move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading Dimpled fingers, and dimpled feet, What in the world is half so sweet As babies that jump, laugh, cry, and crawl, Eat, sleep, talk, walk, creep, coo, and all Wee Babies?

a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

dearly loved

From this reading Up you go baby, that’s the way— Laugh little baby, laugh and play— Little round dumpling, jump and coo, Mother will answer, and laugh with you; Dents, and dimples, and dear little feet, My little baby is, oh, so sweet.

plural of “dent” — an appreciable consequence (especially a lessening)

From this reading Up you go baby, that’s the way— Laugh little baby, laugh and play— Little round dumpling, jump and coo, Mother will answer, and laugh with you; Dents, and dimples, and dear little feet, My little baby is, oh, so sweet.

past form of “dimple” — mark with, or as if with, dimples

From this reading Dimpled fingers, and dimpled feet, What in the world is half so sweet As babies that jump, laugh, cry, and crawl, Eat, sleep, talk, walk, creep, coo, and all Wee Babies?

plural of “dimple” — a chad that has been punched or dimpled but all four corners are still attached

From this reading Up you go baby, that’s the way— Laugh little baby, laugh and play— Little round dumpling, jump and coo, Mother will answer, and laugh with you; Dents, and dimples, and dear little feet, My little baby is, oh, so sweet.

take in liquids

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

small balls or strips of boiled or steamed dough

From this reading Up you go baby, that’s the way— Laugh little baby, laugh and play— Little round dumpling, jump and coo, Mother will answer, and laugh with you; Dents, and dimples, and dear little feet, My little baby is, oh, so sweet.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Horace and Maurice were so like each other— You hardly could tell the one from his brother.

take in solid food

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Dimpled fingers, and dimpled feet, What in the world is half so sweet As babies that jump, laugh, cry, and crawl, Eat, sleep, talk, walk, creep, coo, and all Wee Babies?

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading Dimpled fingers, and dimpled feet, What in the world is half so sweet As babies that jump, laugh, cry, and crawl, Eat, sleep, talk, walk, creep, coo, and all Wee Babies?

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Up you go baby, that’s the way— Laugh little baby, laugh and play— Little round dumpling, jump and coo, Mother will answer, and laugh with you; Dents, and dimples, and dear little feet, My little baby is, oh, so sweet.

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 Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading Dimpled fingers, and dimpled feet, What in the world is half so sweet As babies that jump, laugh, cry, and crawl, Eat, sleep, talk, walk, creep, coo, and all Wee Babies?

only a very short time before

From this reading Horace and Maurice were so like each other— You hardly could tell the one from his brother.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Horace and Maurice were so like each other— You hardly could tell the one from his brother.

Roman lyric poet said to have influenced English poetry (65-8 BC)

From this reading Horace and Maurice were so like each other— You hardly could tell the one from his brother.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Dimpled fingers, and dimpled feet, What in the world is half so sweet As babies that jump, laugh, cry, and crawl, Eat, sleep, talk, walk, creep, coo, and all Wee Babies?

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

From this reading Dimpled fingers, and dimpled feet, What in the world is half so sweet As babies that jump, laugh, cry, and crawl, Eat, sleep, talk, walk, creep, coo, and all Wee Babies?

move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading Dimpled fingers, and dimpled feet, What in the world is half so sweet As babies that jump, laugh, cry, and crawl, Eat, sleep, talk, walk, creep, coo, and all Wee Babies?

the sound of laughing

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Horace and Maurice were so like each other— You hardly could tell the one from his brother.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Up you go baby, that’s the way— Laugh little baby, laugh and play— Little round dumpling, jump and coo, Mother will answer, and laugh with you; Dents, and dimples, and dear little feet, My little baby is, oh, so sweet.

a large number or amount

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

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

From this reading Horace and Maurice were so like each other— You hardly could tell the one from his brother.

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

From this reading Up you go baby, that’s the way— Laugh little baby, laugh and play— Little round dumpling, jump and coo, Mother will answer, and laugh with you; Dents, and dimples, and dear little feet, My little baby is, oh, so sweet.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Up you go baby, that’s the way— Laugh little baby, laugh and play— Little round dumpling, jump and coo, Mother will answer, and laugh with you; Dents, and dimples, and dear little feet, My little baby is, oh, so sweet.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading Up you go baby, that’s the way— Laugh little baby, laugh and play— Little round dumpling, jump and coo, Mother will answer, and laugh with you; Dents, and dimples, and dear little feet, My little baby is, oh, so sweet.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Horace and Maurice were so like each other— You hardly could tell the one from his brother.

and nothing more

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Horace and Maurice were so like each other— You hardly could tell the one from his brother.

participate in games or sport

From this reading Up you go baby, that’s the way— Laugh little baby, laugh and play— Little round dumpling, jump and coo, Mother will answer, and laugh with you; Dents, and dimples, and dear little feet, My little baby is, oh, so sweet.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading Up you go baby, that’s the way— Laugh little baby, laugh and play— Little round dumpling, jump and coo, Mother will answer, and laugh with you; Dents, and dimples, and dear little feet, My little baby is, oh, so sweet.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

be seated

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading Dimpled fingers, and dimpled feet, What in the world is half so sweet As babies that jump, laugh, cry, and crawl, Eat, sleep, talk, walk, creep, coo, and all Wee Babies?

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

express in words

From this reading Horace and Maurice were so like each other— You hardly could tell the one from his brother.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

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

From this reading Up you go baby, that’s the way— Laugh little baby, laugh and play— Little round dumpling, jump and coo, Mother will answer, and laugh with you; Dents, and dimples, and dear little feet, My little baby is, oh, so sweet.

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

From this reading Dimpled fingers, and dimpled feet, What in the world is half so sweet As babies that jump, laugh, cry, and crawl, Eat, sleep, talk, walk, creep, coo, and all Wee Babies?

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

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

very small

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

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

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

(mineralogy) two interwoven crystals that are mirror images on each other

From this reading TWINS.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

the act of traveling by foot

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Up you go baby, that’s the way— Laugh little baby, laugh and play— Little round dumpling, jump and coo, Mother will answer, and laugh with you; Dents, and dimples, and dear little feet, My little baby is, oh, so sweet.

(used informally) very small

From this reading Dimpled fingers, and dimpled feet, What in the world is half so sweet As babies that jump, laugh, cry, and crawl, Eat, sleep, talk, walk, creep, coo, and all Wee Babies?

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Horace and Maurice were so like each other— You hardly could tell the one from his brother.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Dimpled fingers, and dimpled feet, What in the world is half so sweet As babies that jump, laugh, cry, and crawl, Eat, sleep, talk, walk, creep, coo, and all Wee Babies?

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Up you go baby, that’s the way— Laugh little baby, laugh and play— Little round dumpling, jump and coo, Mother will answer, and laugh with you; Dents, and dimples, and dear little feet, My little baby is, oh, so sweet.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Babies short, and babies tall, Babies big, and babies small, Blue-eyed babies, babies fair, Brown-eyed babes, with lots of hair, Babies so tiny they can’t sit up, Babies that drink from a silver cup, Babies that coo and babies that creep, Babies that only can eat and sleep, Babies that laugh and babies that talk, Babies quite big enough to walk.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading Dimpled fingers, and dimpled feet, What in the world is half so sweet As babies that jump, laugh, cry, and crawl, Eat, sleep, talk, walk, creep, coo, and all Wee Babies?

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Up you go baby, that’s the way— Laugh little baby, laugh and play— Little round dumpling, jump and coo, Mother will answer, and laugh with you; Dents, and dimples, and dear little feet, My little baby is, oh, so sweet.