Chapter XXIX · Chapter 29

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

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

a bottomless gulf or pit; any unfathomable (or apparently unfathomable) cavity or chasm or void extending below (often used figuratively)

From this reading They felt that it was brutalizing his very soul, and becoming a millstone around their necks which must drag them down to some unknown abyss of infamy.

commonly used or practiced; usual

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

be able to spare or give up

From this reading Mechanically they went through the motions of eating, the mother and daughters forcing down the little food they could afford, and the children ravenously devouring all that was given to them.

(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 Mechanically they went through the motions of eating, the mother and daughters forcing down the little food they could afford, and the children ravenously devouring all that was given to them.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading As Mildred saw the mother trying to slip unnoticed her almost untasted supper from her plate to Fred's, she laid a hand upon her arm and said:

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

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb

From this reading As Mildred saw the mother trying to slip unnoticed her almost untasted supper from her plate to Fred's, she laid a hand upon her arm and said:

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading They felt that it was brutalizing his very soul, and becoming a millstone around their necks which must drag them down to some unknown abyss of infamy.

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

From this reading As Mildred saw the mother trying to slip unnoticed her almost untasted supper from her plate to Fred's, she laid a hand upon her arm and said:

(informal) very unpleasant

From this reading When Mr. Jocelyn confined himself solely to opium he was not so revolting, but common, beastly intoxication was unendurable.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

according with custom or propriety

From this reading They felt that it was brutalizing his very soul, and becoming a millstone around their necks which must drag them down to some unknown abyss of infamy.

-ing form of “brutalize” — treat brutally

From this reading They felt that it was brutalizing his very soul, and becoming a millstone around their necks which must drag them down to some unknown abyss of infamy.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading When Mr. Jocelyn confined himself solely to opium he was not so revolting, but common, beastly intoxication was unendurable.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading Mechanically they went through the motions of eating, the mother and daughters forcing down the little food they could afford, and the children ravenously devouring all that was given to them.

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading When Mr. Jocelyn confined himself solely to opium he was not so revolting, but common, beastly intoxication was unendurable.

not invading healthy tissue

From this reading When Mr. Jocelyn confined himself solely to opium he was not so revolting, but common, beastly intoxication was unendurable.

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

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

plural of “daughter” — a female human offspring

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

lower than previously

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

(often followed by “for”) ardently or excessively desirous

From this reading Mechanically they went through the motions of eating, the mother and daughters forcing down the little food they could afford, and the children ravenously devouring all that was given to them.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading They felt that it was brutalizing his very soul, and becoming a millstone around their necks which must drag them down to some unknown abyss of infamy.

pull, as against a resistance

From this reading They felt that it was brutalizing his very soul, and becoming a millstone around their necks which must drag them down to some unknown abyss of infamy.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

the act of consuming food

From this reading Mechanically they went through the motions of eating, the mother and daughters forcing down the little food they could afford, and the children ravenously devouring all that was given to them.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading They felt that it was brutalizing his very soul, and becoming a millstone around their necks which must drag them down to some unknown abyss of infamy.

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading Mechanically they went through the motions of eating, the mother and daughters forcing down the little food they could afford, and the children ravenously devouring all that was given to them.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

-ing form of “force” — to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means

From this reading Mechanically they went through the motions of eating, the mother and daughters forcing down the little food they could afford, and the children ravenously devouring all that was given to them.

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

From this reading As Mildred saw the mother trying to slip unnoticed her almost untasted supper from her plate to Fred's, she laid a hand upon her arm and said:

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading As Mildred saw the mother trying to slip unnoticed her almost untasted supper from her plate to Fred's, she laid a hand upon her arm and said:

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading Mechanically they went through the motions of eating, the mother and daughters forcing down the little food they could afford, and the children ravenously devouring all that was given to them.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading As Mildred saw the mother trying to slip unnoticed her almost untasted supper from her plate to Fred's, she laid a hand upon her arm and said:

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading When Mr. Jocelyn confined himself solely to opium he was not so revolting, but common, beastly intoxication was unendurable.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

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

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading When Mr. Jocelyn confined himself solely to opium he was not so revolting, but common, beastly intoxication was unendurable.

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

From this reading They felt that it was brutalizing his very soul, and becoming a millstone around their necks which must drag them down to some unknown abyss of infamy.

a social unit living together

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

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

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

a state of extreme dishonor

From this reading They felt that it was brutalizing his very soul, and becoming a millstone around their necks which must drag them down to some unknown abyss of infamy.

the physiological state produced by a poison or other toxic substance

From this reading When Mr. Jocelyn confined himself solely to opium he was not so revolting, but common, beastly intoxication was unendurable.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading They felt that it was brutalizing his very soul, and becoming a millstone around their necks which must drag them down to some unknown abyss of infamy.

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

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

set down according to a plan

From this reading As Mildred saw the mother trying to slip unnoticed her almost untasted supper from her plate to Fred's, she laid a hand upon her arm and said:

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

From this reading Mechanically they went through the motions of eating, the mother and daughters forcing down the little food they could afford, and the children ravenously devouring all that was given to them.

deficient in amount or quality or extent

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

in a mechanical manner; by a mechanism

From this reading Mechanically they went through the motions of eating, the mother and daughters forcing down the little food they could afford, and the children ravenously devouring all that was given to them.

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

From this reading As Mildred saw the mother trying to slip unnoticed her almost untasted supper from her plate to Fred's, she laid a hand upon her arm and said:

(figurative) something that hinders or handicaps

From this reading They felt that it was brutalizing his very soul, and becoming a millstone around their necks which must drag them down to some unknown abyss of infamy.

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

From this reading Mechanically they went through the motions of eating, the mother and daughters forcing down the little food they could afford, and the children ravenously devouring all that was given to them.

plural of “motion” — the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals

From this reading Mechanically they went through the motions of eating, the mother and daughters forcing down the little food they could afford, and the children ravenously devouring all that was given to them.

a form of address for a man

From this reading When Mr. Jocelyn confined himself solely to opium he was not so revolting, but common, beastly intoxication was unendurable.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading They felt that it was brutalizing his very soul, and becoming a millstone around their necks which must drag them down to some unknown abyss of infamy.

plural of “neck” — the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body

From this reading They felt that it was brutalizing his very soul, and becoming a millstone around their necks which must drag them down to some unknown abyss of infamy.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading When Mr. Jocelyn confined himself solely to opium he was not so revolting, but common, beastly intoxication was unendurable.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They felt that it was brutalizing his very soul, and becoming a millstone around their necks which must drag them down to some unknown abyss of infamy.

an addictive narcotic extracted from seed capsules of the opium poppy

From this reading When Mr. Jocelyn confined himself solely to opium he was not so revolting, but common, beastly intoxication was unendurable.

(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score

From this reading As Mildred saw the mother trying to slip unnoticed her almost untasted supper from her plate to Fred's, she laid a hand upon her arm and said:

in the manner of someone who is very hungry

From this reading Mechanically they went through the motions of eating, the mother and daughters forcing down the little food they could afford, and the children ravenously devouring all that was given to them.

highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust

From this reading When Mr. Jocelyn confined himself solely to opium he was not so revolting, but common, beastly intoxication was unendurable.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading As Mildred saw the mother trying to slip unnoticed her almost untasted supper from her plate to Fred's, she laid a hand upon her arm and said:

cut with a saw

From this reading As Mildred saw the mother trying to slip unnoticed her almost untasted supper from her plate to Fred's, she laid a hand upon her arm and said:

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

From this reading As Mildred saw the mother trying to slip unnoticed her almost untasted supper from her plate to Fred's, she laid a hand upon her arm and said:

marked by absence of sound

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

something reduced to its minimal form

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

move stealthily

From this reading As Mildred saw the mother trying to slip unnoticed her almost untasted supper from her plate to Fred's, she laid a hand upon her arm and said:

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading When Mr. Jocelyn confined himself solely to opium he was not so revolting, but common, beastly intoxication was unendurable.

without any others being included or involved

From this reading When Mr. Jocelyn confined himself solely to opium he was not so revolting, but common, beastly intoxication was unendurable.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading They felt that it was brutalizing his very soul, and becoming a millstone around their necks which must drag them down to some unknown abyss of infamy.

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading They felt that it was brutalizing his very soul, and becoming a millstone around their necks which must drag them down to some unknown abyss of infamy.

a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

causing fear or dread or terror

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading They felt that it was brutalizing his very soul, and becoming a millstone around their necks which must drag them down to some unknown abyss of infamy.

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

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading They felt that it was brutalizing his very soul, and becoming a millstone around their necks which must drag them down to some unknown abyss of infamy.

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

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Mechanically they went through the motions of eating, the mother and daughters forcing down the little food they could afford, and the children ravenously devouring all that was given to them.

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

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

hard to endure

From this reading As Mildred saw the mother trying to slip unnoticed her almost untasted supper from her plate to Fred's, she laid a hand upon her arm and said:

incapable of being tolerated or endured

From this reading When Mr. Jocelyn confined himself solely to opium he was not so revolting, but common, beastly intoxication was unendurable.

not known

From this reading They felt that it was brutalizing his very soul, and becoming a millstone around their necks which must drag them down to some unknown abyss of infamy.

not noticed

From this reading As Mildred saw the mother trying to slip unnoticed her almost untasted supper from her plate to Fred's, she laid a hand upon her arm and said:

still full

From this reading As Mildred saw the mother trying to slip unnoticed her almost untasted supper from her plate to Fred's, she laid a hand upon her arm and said:

a formal word for “on”

From this reading As Mildred saw the mother trying to slip unnoticed her almost untasted supper from her plate to Fred's, she laid a hand upon her arm and said:

precisely as stated

From this reading They felt that it was brutalizing his very soul, and becoming a millstone around their necks which must drag them down to some unknown abyss of infamy.

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

From this reading When Mr. Jocelyn confined himself solely to opium he was not so revolting, but common, beastly intoxication was unendurable.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Mechanically they went through the motions of eating, the mother and daughters forcing down the little food they could afford, and the children ravenously devouring all that was given to them.

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

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.

at the time that

From this reading When Mr. Jocelyn confined himself solely to opium he was not so revolting, but common, beastly intoxication was unendurable.

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

From this reading They felt that it was brutalizing his very soul, and becoming a millstone around their necks which must drag them down to some unknown abyss of infamy.

possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading A WOMAN'S HEART Mrs. Jocelyn and her daughters were silent and depressed during their meagre supper, for they never could become accustomed to the terrible skeleton in their household.