used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Paul grew up a quiet, unpretending boy, with a shy look and awkward behavior.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He was what one calls in his part of the country “fussy:” a nature inclined to worry about details and brooding anxiously by himself.
how long something has existed
From this reading He had no intercourse with any boys of his age, not even in school.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Paul grew up a quiet, unpretending boy, with a shy look and awkward behavior.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading He was what one calls in his part of the country “fussy:” a nature inclined to worry about details and brooding anxiously by himself.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He had no intercourse with any boys of his age, not even in school.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading Generally he kept apart, and, while he took care of the twins, would sit for hours working at some wood-carving without saying a single word.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Generally he kept apart, and, while he took care of the twins, would sit for hours working at some wood-carving without saying a single word.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Years passed away.
awkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/
causing inconvenience
From this reading Paul grew up a quiet, unpretending boy, with a shy look and awkward behavior.
behaviornounUS /bɪˈheɪvjər/
manner of acting or controlling yourself
From this reading Paul grew up a quiet, unpretending boy, with a shy look and awkward behavior.
a youthful male person
From this reading Paul grew up a quiet, unpretending boy, with a shy look and awkward behavior.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading He had no intercourse with any boys of his age, not even in school.
broodingnounUS /ˈbruːdɪŋ/
sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body
From this reading He was what one calls in his part of the country “fussy:” a nature inclined to worry about details and brooding anxiously by himself.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was what one calls in his part of the country “fussy:” a nature inclined to worry about details and brooding anxiously by himself.
plural of “call” — a telephone connection
From this reading He was what one calls in his part of the country “fussy:” a nature inclined to worry about details and brooding anxiously by himself.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading Generally he kept apart, and, while he took care of the twins, would sit for hours working at some wood-carving without saying a single word.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading He was what one calls in his part of the country “fussy:” a nature inclined to worry about details and brooding anxiously by himself.
true confidential information
From this reading He was what one calls in his part of the country “fussy:” a nature inclined to worry about details and brooding anxiously by himself.
divisible by two
From this reading He had no intercourse with any boys of his age, not even in school.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Generally he kept apart, and, while he took care of the twins, would sit for hours working at some wood-carving without saying a single word.
fussyadjectiveUS /ˈfʌsi/
annoyed and irritable
From this reading He was what one calls in his part of the country “fussy:” a nature inclined to worry about details and brooding anxiously by himself.
usually; as a rule
From this reading Generally he kept apart, and, while he took care of the twins, would sit for hours working at some wood-carving without saying a single word.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Paul grew up a quiet, unpretending boy, with a shy look and awkward behavior.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had no intercourse with any boys of his age, not even in school.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Generally he kept apart, and, while he took care of the twins, would sit for hours working at some wood-carving without saying a single word.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He was what one calls in his part of the country “fussy:” a nature inclined to worry about details and brooding anxiously by himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was what one calls in his part of the country “fussy:” a nature inclined to worry about details and brooding anxiously by himself.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Generally he kept apart, and, while he took care of the twins, would sit for hours working at some wood-carving without saying a single word.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was what one calls in his part of the country “fussy:” a nature inclined to worry about details and brooding anxiously by himself.
(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency
From this reading He was what one calls in his part of the country “fussy:” a nature inclined to worry about details and brooding anxiously by himself.
intercoursenounUS /ˈɪntərkɔːrs/
communication between individuals
From this reading He had no intercourse with any boys of his age, not even in school.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Generally he kept apart, and, while he took care of the twins, would sit for hours working at some wood-carving without saying a single word.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Paul grew up a quiet, unpretending boy, with a shy look and awkward behavior.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading He was what one calls in his part of the country “fussy:” a nature inclined to worry about details and brooding anxiously by himself.
not any; not one
From this reading He had no intercourse with any boys of his age, not even in school.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had no intercourse with any boys of his age, not even in school.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Generally he kept apart, and, while he took care of the twins, would sit for hours working at some wood-carving without saying a single word.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He was what one calls in his part of the country “fussy:” a nature inclined to worry about details and brooding anxiously by himself.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading He was what one calls in his part of the country “fussy:” a nature inclined to worry about details and brooding anxiously by himself.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Years passed away.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading Paul grew up a quiet, unpretending boy, with a shy look and awkward behavior.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading Paul grew up a quiet, unpretending boy, with a shy look and awkward behavior.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading Generally he kept apart, and, while he took care of the twins, would sit for hours working at some wood-carving without saying a single word.
an educational institution
From this reading He had no intercourse with any boys of his age, not even in school.
shyverbUS /ʃaɪ/
start suddenly, as from fright
From this reading Paul grew up a quiet, unpretending boy, with a shy look and awkward behavior.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Generally he kept apart, and, while he took care of the twins, would sit for hours working at some wood-carving without saying a single word.
be seated
From this reading Generally he kept apart, and, while he took care of the twins, would sit for hours working at some wood-carving without saying a single word.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Generally he kept apart, and, while he took care of the twins, would sit for hours working at some wood-carving without saying a single word.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Generally he kept apart, and, while he took care of the twins, would sit for hours working at some wood-carving without saying a single word.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was what one calls in his part of the country “fussy:” a nature inclined to worry about details and brooding anxiously by himself.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Generally he kept apart, and, while he took care of the twins, would sit for hours working at some wood-carving without saying a single word.
twinsnounUS /twɪnz/
(mineralogy) two interwoven crystals that are mirror images on each other
From this reading Generally he kept apart, and, while he took care of the twins, would sit for hours working at some wood-carving without saying a single word.
unpretendingadjective
not ostentatious
From this reading Paul grew up a quiet, unpretending boy, with a shy look and awkward behavior.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Paul grew up a quiet, unpretending boy, with a shy look and awkward behavior.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was what one calls in his part of the country “fussy:” a nature inclined to worry about details and brooding anxiously by himself.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He was what one calls in his part of the country “fussy:” a nature inclined to worry about details and brooding anxiously by himself.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Generally he kept apart, and, while he took care of the twins, would sit for hours working at some wood-carving without saying a single word.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Paul grew up a quiet, unpretending boy, with a shy look and awkward behavior.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Generally he kept apart, and, while he took care of the twins, would sit for hours working at some wood-carving without saying a single word.
wood-carving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Generally he kept apart, and, while he took care of the twins, would sit for hours working at some wood-carving without saying a single word.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Generally he kept apart, and, while he took care of the twins, would sit for hours working at some wood-carving without saying a single word.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading Generally he kept apart, and, while he took care of the twins, would sit for hours working at some wood-carving without saying a single word.
be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy
From this reading He was what one calls in his part of the country “fussy:” a nature inclined to worry about details and brooding anxiously by himself.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Generally he kept apart, and, while he took care of the twins, would sit for hours working at some wood-carving without saying a single word.
a late time of life
From this reading Years passed away.
