used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He promised to come home earlier to-day, and won't be long, for he is a boy of his word."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He promised to come home earlier to-day, and won't be long, for he is a boy of his word."
animationnounUS /ˌænəˈmeɪʃən/
the condition of living or the state of being alive
From this reading "Mother," he exclaimed with animation, "I've got strange news to tell you.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Is Willie at home?"
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He promised to come home earlier to-day, and won't be long, for he is a boy of his word."
a youthful male person
From this reading He promised to come home earlier to-day, and won't be long, for he is a boy of his word."
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Mrs Willders persisted in calling her strapping sons "boys," despite the evidence to the contrary on their cheeks and chins.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "No, but I expect him every minute.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading Mrs Willders persisted in calling her strapping sons "boys," despite the evidence to the contrary on their cheeks and chins.
plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading Mrs Willders persisted in calling her strapping sons "boys," despite the evidence to the contrary on their cheeks and chins.
chins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs Willders persisted in calling her strapping sons "boys," despite the evidence to the contrary on their cheeks and chins.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He promised to come home earlier to-day, and won't be long, for he is a boy of his word."
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
From this reading Mrs Willders persisted in calling her strapping sons "boys," despite the evidence to the contrary on their cheeks and chins.
despiteprepositionUS /dɪˈspaɪt/
although something is true; in spite of
From this reading Mrs Willders persisted in calling her strapping sons "boys," despite the evidence to the contrary on their cheeks and chins.
earlier in time; previously
From this reading He promised to come home earlier to-day, and won't be long, for he is a boy of his word."
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading "No, but I expect him every minute.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading Mrs Willders persisted in calling her strapping sons "boys," despite the evidence to the contrary on their cheeks and chins.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "Mother," he exclaimed with animation, "I've got strange news to tell you.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading "No, but I expect him every minute.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He promised to come home earlier to-day, and won't be long, for he is a boy of his word."
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Mother," he exclaimed with animation, "I've got strange news to tell you.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Mother," he exclaimed with animation, "I've got strange news to tell you.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs Willders persisted in calling her strapping sons "boys," despite the evidence to the contrary on their cheeks and chins.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "No, but I expect him every minute.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He promised to come home earlier to-day, and won't be long, for he is a boy of his word."
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Is Willie at home?"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "No, but I expect him every minute.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mother," he exclaimed with animation, "I've got strange news to tell you.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs Willders persisted in calling her strapping sons "boys," despite the evidence to the contrary on their cheeks and chins.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Is Willie at home?"
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading He promised to come home earlier to-day, and won't be long, for he is a boy of his word."
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading "No, but I expect him every minute.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading "Mother," he exclaimed with animation, "I've got strange news to tell you.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs Willders persisted in calling her strapping sons "boys," despite the evidence to the contrary on their cheeks and chins.
information about recent and important events
From this reading "Mother," he exclaimed with animation, "I've got strange news to tell you.
not any; not one
From this reading "No, but I expect him every minute.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He promised to come home earlier to-day, and won't be long, for he is a boy of his word."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Mrs Willders persisted in calling her strapping sons "boys," despite the evidence to the contrary on their cheeks and chins.
persistedverbUS /pərˈsɪstɪd/
past form of “persist” — continue to exist
From this reading Mrs Willders persisted in calling her strapping sons "boys," despite the evidence to the contrary on their cheeks and chins.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading He promised to come home earlier to-day, and won't be long, for he is a boy of his word."
plural of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading Mrs Willders persisted in calling her strapping sons "boys," despite the evidence to the contrary on their cheeks and chins.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading "Mother," he exclaimed with animation, "I've got strange news to tell you.
strappingadjectiveUS /ˈstræpɪŋ/
muscular and heavily built
From this reading Mrs Willders persisted in calling her strapping sons "boys," despite the evidence to the contrary on their cheeks and chins.
express in words
From this reading "Mother," he exclaimed with animation, "I've got strange news to tell you.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mrs Willders persisted in calling her strapping sons "boys," despite the evidence to the contrary on their cheeks and chins.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Mrs Willders persisted in calling her strapping sons "boys," despite the evidence to the contrary on their cheeks and chins.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Mother," he exclaimed with animation, "I've got strange news to tell you.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He promised to come home earlier to-day, and won't be long, for he is a boy of his word."
Willders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs Willders persisted in calling her strapping sons "boys," despite the evidence to the contrary on their cheeks and chins.
Willie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Is Willie at home?"
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Mother," he exclaimed with animation, "I've got strange news to tell you.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He promised to come home earlier to-day, and won't be long, for he is a boy of his word."
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading He promised to come home earlier to-day, and won't be long, for he is a boy of his word."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Mother," he exclaimed with animation, "I've got strange news to tell you.
