used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Now that his father had passed away, a sudden feeling of desolation chilled the boy’s spirits, and he asked himself what life had in store for him of hope and happiness.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading GERALD had often thought vaguely of the time when he would be left alone.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Between him and his father there had been an intimacy and mutual dependence greater than usually exists between father and son.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Now that his father had passed away, a sudden feeling of desolation chilled the boy’s spirits, and he asked himself what life had in store for him of hope and happiness.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Now that his father had passed away, a sudden feeling of desolation chilled the boy’s spirits, and he asked himself what life had in store for him of hope and happiness.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading GERALD had often thought vaguely of the time when he would be left alone.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Between him and his father there had been an intimacy and mutual dependence greater than usually exists between father and son.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Between him and his father there had been an intimacy and mutual dependence greater than usually exists between father and son.
boy'snounUS /bɔɪz/
possessive form of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Now that his father had passed away, a sudden feeling of desolation chilled the boy’s spirits, and he asked himself what life had in store for him of hope and happiness.
buoyantadjectiveUS /ˈbɔɪənt/
tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or gas
From this reading But youth is buoyant, and Gerald was but sixteen.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But youth is buoyant, and Gerald was but sixteen.
chilledverbUS /tʃɪld/
past form of “chill” — depress or discourage
From this reading Now that his father had passed away, a sudden feeling of desolation chilled the boy’s spirits, and he asked himself what life had in store for him of hope and happiness.
dependencenounUS /dɪˈpendəns/
the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else
From this reading Between him and his father there had been an intimacy and mutual dependence greater than usually exists between father and son.
desolationnounUS /ˌdesəˈleɪʃən/
the state of being decayed or destroyed
From this reading Now that his father had passed away, a sudden feeling of desolation chilled the boy’s spirits, and he asked himself what life had in store for him of hope and happiness.
existsverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪsts/
third-person singular of “exist” — have an existence, be extant
From this reading Between him and his father there had been an intimacy and mutual dependence greater than usually exists between father and son.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Between him and his father there had been an intimacy and mutual dependence greater than usually exists between father and son.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Now that his father had passed away, a sudden feeling of desolation chilled the boy’s spirits, and he asked himself what life had in store for him of hope and happiness.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now that his father had passed away, a sudden feeling of desolation chilled the boy’s spirits, and he asked himself what life had in store for him of hope and happiness.
GERALD
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GERALD had often thought vaguely of the time when he would be left alone.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading Between him and his father there had been an intimacy and mutual dependence greater than usually exists between father and son.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading GERALD had often thought vaguely of the time when he would be left alone.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading Now that his father had passed away, a sudden feeling of desolation chilled the boy’s spirits, and he asked himself what life had in store for him of hope and happiness.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading GERALD had often thought vaguely of the time when he would be left alone.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Between him and his father there had been an intimacy and mutual dependence greater than usually exists between father and son.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Now that his father had passed away, a sudden feeling of desolation chilled the boy’s spirits, and he asked himself what life had in store for him of hope and happiness.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Between him and his father there had been an intimacy and mutual dependence greater than usually exists between father and son.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Now that his father had passed away, a sudden feeling of desolation chilled the boy’s spirits, and he asked himself what life had in store for him of hope and happiness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Now that his father had passed away, a sudden feeling of desolation chilled the boy’s spirits, and he asked himself what life had in store for him of hope and happiness.
intimacynounUS /ˈɪntəməsi/
close or warm friendship
From this reading Between him and his father there had been an intimacy and mutual dependence greater than usually exists between father and son.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But youth is buoyant, and Gerald was but sixteen.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading GERALD had often thought vaguely of the time when he would be left alone.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Now that his father had passed away, a sudden feeling of desolation chilled the boy’s spirits, and he asked himself what life had in store for him of hope and happiness.
mutualadjectiveUS /ˈmjuːtʃuːəl/
common to or shared by two or more parties
From this reading Between him and his father there had been an intimacy and mutual dependence greater than usually exists between father and son.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now that his father had passed away, a sudden feeling of desolation chilled the boy’s spirits, and he asked himself what life had in store for him of hope and happiness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading GERALD had often thought vaguely of the time when he would be left alone.
many times at short intervals
From this reading GERALD had often thought vaguely of the time when he would be left alone.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Now that his father had passed away, a sudden feeling of desolation chilled the boy’s spirits, and he asked himself what life had in store for him of hope and happiness.
sixteenadjectiveUS /sɪkˈstiːn/
being one more than fifteen
From this reading But youth is buoyant, and Gerald was but sixteen.
a male human offspring
From this reading Between him and his father there had been an intimacy and mutual dependence greater than usually exists between father and son.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading Now that his father had passed away, a sudden feeling of desolation chilled the boy’s spirits, and he asked himself what life had in store for him of hope and happiness.
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading Now that his father had passed away, a sudden feeling of desolation chilled the boy’s spirits, and he asked himself what life had in store for him of hope and happiness.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Now that his father had passed away, a sudden feeling of desolation chilled the boy’s spirits, and he asked himself what life had in store for him of hope and happiness.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Between him and his father there had been an intimacy and mutual dependence greater than usually exists between father and son.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now that his father had passed away, a sudden feeling of desolation chilled the boy’s spirits, and he asked himself what life had in store for him of hope and happiness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading GERALD had often thought vaguely of the time when he would be left alone.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Between him and his father there had been an intimacy and mutual dependence greater than usually exists between father and son.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading GERALD had often thought vaguely of the time when he would be left alone.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading GERALD had often thought vaguely of the time when he would be left alone.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR.
under normal conditions
From this reading Between him and his father there had been an intimacy and mutual dependence greater than usually exists between father and son.
vaguelyadverbUS /ˈveɪɡli/
in a vague way
From this reading GERALD had often thought vaguely of the time when he would be left alone.
someone who visits
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But youth is buoyant, and Gerald was but sixteen.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Now that his father had passed away, a sudden feeling of desolation chilled the boy’s spirits, and he asked himself what life had in store for him of hope and happiness.
at the time that
From this reading GERALD had often thought vaguely of the time when he would be left alone.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading GERALD had often thought vaguely of the time when he would be left alone.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading But youth is buoyant, and Gerald was but sixteen.
