used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NEW ALLIANCE.
acknowledgeverbUS /ækˈnɑːlɪdʒ/
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
acquiredadjectiveUS /əˈkwaɪərd/
gotten through environmental forces
From this reading He had acquired a prominent position among the down-town boot-blacks by his strength, which he used oftentimes to impose upon boys weaker than himself.
ALLIANCEnounUS /əˈlaɪəns/
the state of being allied or confederated
From this reading A NEW ALLIANCE.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The name of Micky Maguire is already familiar to the readers of "Ragged Dick."
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading He had acquired a prominent position among the down-town boot-blacks by his strength, which he used oftentimes to impose upon boys weaker than himself.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
boot-blacks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had acquired a prominent position among the down-town boot-blacks by his strength, which he used oftentimes to impose upon boys weaker than himself.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading He had acquired a prominent position among the down-town boot-blacks by his strength, which he used oftentimes to impose upon boys weaker than himself.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had acquired a prominent position among the down-town boot-blacks by his strength, which he used oftentimes to impose upon boys weaker than himself.
someone who is a detective
From this reading The name of Micky Maguire is already familiar to the readers of "Ragged Dick."
Dick'snounUS /dɪks/
possessive form of “dick” — someone who is a detective
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
down-town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had acquired a prominent position among the down-town boot-blacks by his strength, which he used oftentimes to impose upon boys weaker than himself.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading The name of Micky Maguire is already familiar to the readers of "Ragged Dick."
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading He was a young ruffian, indeed, with few redeeming qualities.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had acquired a prominent position among the down-town boot-blacks by his strength, which he used oftentimes to impose upon boys weaker than himself.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had acquired a prominent position among the down-town boot-blacks by his strength, which he used oftentimes to impose upon boys weaker than himself.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He had acquired a prominent position among the down-town boot-blacks by his strength, which he used oftentimes to impose upon boys weaker than himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had acquired a prominent position among the down-town boot-blacks by his strength, which he used oftentimes to impose upon boys weaker than himself.
imposeverbUS /ˌɪmˈpoʊz/
compel to behave in a certain way
From this reading He had acquired a prominent position among the down-town boot-blacks by his strength, which he used oftentimes to impose upon boys weaker than himself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading He was a young ruffian, indeed, with few redeeming qualities.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The name of Micky Maguire is already familiar to the readers of "Ragged Dick."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
Maguire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The name of Micky Maguire is already familiar to the readers of "Ragged Dick."
engage in
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
Micky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The name of Micky Maguire is already familiar to the readers of "Ragged Dick."
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The name of Micky Maguire is already familiar to the readers of "Ragged Dick."
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading A NEW ALLIANCE.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
something you have to do
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The name of Micky Maguire is already familiar to the readers of "Ragged Dick."
oftentimesadverbUS /ˈɔːfəntaɪmz/
many times at short intervals
From this reading He had acquired a prominent position among the down-town boot-blacks by his strength, which he used oftentimes to impose upon boys weaker than himself.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading He had acquired a prominent position among the down-town boot-blacks by his strength, which he used oftentimes to impose upon boys weaker than himself.
prominentadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːmənənt/
having a quality that thrusts itself into attention
From this reading He had acquired a prominent position among the down-town boot-blacks by his strength, which he used oftentimes to impose upon boys weaker than himself.
plural of “quality” — an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading He was a young ruffian, indeed, with few redeeming qualities.
RaggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading The name of Micky Maguire is already familiar to the readers of "Ragged Dick."
readersnounUS /ˈriːdərz/
plural of “reader” — a person who enjoys reading
From this reading The name of Micky Maguire is already familiar to the readers of "Ragged Dick."
redeemingadjectiveUS /rɪˈdiːmɪŋ/
bringing about salvation or redemption from sin
From this reading He was a young ruffian, indeed, with few redeeming qualities.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
ruffiannoun
a cruel and brutal fellow
From this reading He was a young ruffian, indeed, with few redeeming qualities.
Identical; not different.
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading He had acquired a prominent position among the down-town boot-blacks by his strength, which he used oftentimes to impose upon boys weaker than himself.
subservientadjectiveUS /səbˈsɜːrviənt/
compliant and obedient to authority
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
superioritynounUS /ˌsuːpɪriˈɔːrɪti/
the quality of being superior
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He had acquired a prominent position among the down-town boot-blacks by his strength, which he used oftentimes to impose upon boys weaker than himself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The name of Micky Maguire is already familiar to the readers of "Ragged Dick."
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The name of Micky Maguire is already familiar to the readers of "Ragged Dick."
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He had acquired a prominent position among the down-town boot-blacks by his strength, which he used oftentimes to impose upon boys weaker than himself.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading He had acquired a prominent position among the down-town boot-blacks by his strength, which he used oftentimes to impose upon boys weaker than himself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was a young ruffian, indeed, with few redeeming qualities.
weakeradjectiveUS /ˈwiːkər/
comparative of “weak” — wanting in physical strength
From this reading He had acquired a prominent position among the down-town boot-blacks by his strength, which he used oftentimes to impose upon boys weaker than himself.
at the time that
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had acquired a prominent position among the down-town boot-blacks by his strength, which he used oftentimes to impose upon boys weaker than himself.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When Dick was in the same business, he tried on two or three occasions to make him acknowledge his superiority; but it was not in Dick's nature to be subservient to any one whom he did not respect.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was a young ruffian, indeed, with few redeeming qualities.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading He was a young ruffian, indeed, with few redeeming qualities.
