What is the meaning of second clause in this sentence ?
She was an only child who had been very welcome.
I read this sentence in various online dictionaries. I understand the meaning of first part that the girl we are talking about was the only child of her parents but what does the second part means ? Does it mean that since she was the first and only child of her parents she was welcomed very well, her birth day was celebrated very well, all in all she was the apple of her parent's eye
Or
Does this means that she had been very generous / humble who welcomes everyone, ( amiable, friendly etc)
If the meaning of the sentence is somewhat like what I suggested in first part then its fine no further questions but if it's like the meaning of second explanation which I gave then isn't the use of the better than use of an in the sentence before only child in the sentence ? By using the we will imply that she was the only child ( among others) who was amiable, the sounds better to me as we are talking about a specific child.