used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When he had finished he looked at the clock, and was surprised to find that it was only a little after eight.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading When he had finished he looked at the clock, and was surprised to find that it was only a little after eight.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading When a small boy, if his nurse told him the booger-man was behind a bush, he always insisted on investigating.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading During the course of an hour and a half, he seemed to have lived and suffered a year and a half.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When he had finished he looked at the clock, and was surprised to find that it was only a little after eight.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When he had finished he looked at the clock, and was surprised to find that it was only a little after eight.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had never been his way to run from trouble.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading When a small boy, if his nurse told him the booger-man was behind a bush, he always insisted on investigating.
booger-man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When a small boy, if his nurse told him the booger-man was behind a bush, he always insisted on investigating.
a youthful male person
From this reading When a small boy, if his nurse told him the booger-man was behind a bush, he always insisted on investigating.
a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading When a small boy, if his nurse told him the booger-man was behind a bush, he always insisted on investigating.
characteristicnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪk/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading The early hour gave him an opportunity to display one of his characteristic traits.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading When he had finished he looked at the clock, and was surprised to find that it was only a little after eight.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading During the course of an hour and a half, he seemed to have lived and suffered a year and a half.
displaynounUS /dɪˈspleɪ/
something intended to communicate a particular impression
From this reading The early hour gave him an opportunity to display one of his characteristic traits.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the course of an hour and a half, he seemed to have lived and suffered a year and a half.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading The early hour gave him an opportunity to display one of his characteristic traits.
being one more than seven
From this reading When he had finished he looked at the clock, and was surprised to find that it was only a little after eight.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading When he had finished he looked at the clock, and was surprised to find that it was only a little after eight.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading When he had finished he looked at the clock, and was surprised to find that it was only a little after eight.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It had never been his way to run from trouble.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The early hour gave him an opportunity to display one of his characteristic traits.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When he had finished he looked at the clock, and was surprised to find that it was only a little after eight.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading During the course of an hour and a half, he seemed to have lived and suffered a year and a half.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading During the course of an hour and a half, he seemed to have lived and suffered a year and a half.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When he had finished he looked at the clock, and was surprised to find that it was only a little after eight.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The early hour gave him an opportunity to display one of his characteristic traits.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The early hour gave him an opportunity to display one of his characteristic traits.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading During the course of an hour and a half, he seemed to have lived and suffered a year and a half.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading When a small boy, if his nurse told him the booger-man was behind a bush, he always insisted on investigating.
past form of “insist” — be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
From this reading When a small boy, if his nurse told him the booger-man was behind a bush, he always insisted on investigating.
investigatingnounUS /ˌɪnˈvestəɡeɪtɪŋ/
the work of inquiring into something thoroughly and systematically
From this reading When a small boy, if his nurse told him the booger-man was behind a bush, he always insisted on investigating.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When he had finished he looked at the clock, and was surprised to find that it was only a little after eight.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When he had finished he looked at the clock, and was surprised to find that it was only a little after eight.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading During the course of an hour and a half, he seemed to have lived and suffered a year and a half.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading When he had finished he looked at the clock, and was surprised to find that it was only a little after eight.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading It had never been his way to run from trouble.
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading When a small boy, if his nurse told him the booger-man was behind a bush, he always insisted on investigating.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading During the course of an hour and a half, he seemed to have lived and suffered a year and a half.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When a small boy, if his nurse told him the booger-man was behind a bush, he always insisted on investigating.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The early hour gave him an opportunity to display one of his characteristic traits.
and nothing more
From this reading When he had finished he looked at the clock, and was surprised to find that it was only a little after eight.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading The early hour gave him an opportunity to display one of his characteristic traits.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading It had never been his way to run from trouble.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading During the course of an hour and a half, he seemed to have lived and suffered a year and a half.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When a small boy, if his nurse told him the booger-man was behind a bush, he always insisted on investigating.
past form of “suffer” — undergo or be subjected to
From this reading During the course of an hour and a half, he seemed to have lived and suffered a year and a half.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading When he had finished he looked at the clock, and was surprised to find that it was only a little after eight.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When he had finished he looked at the clock, and was surprised to find that it was only a little after eight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When he had finished he looked at the clock, and was surprised to find that it was only a little after eight.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When he had finished he looked at the clock, and was surprised to find that it was only a little after eight.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading When a small boy, if his nurse told him the booger-man was behind a bush, he always insisted on investigating.
traitsnounUS /treɪts/
plural of “trait” — a distinguishing feature of your personal nature
From this reading The early hour gave him an opportunity to display one of his characteristic traits.
a source of difficulty
From this reading It had never been his way to run from trouble.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When he had finished he looked at the clock, and was surprised to find that it was only a little after eight.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It had never been his way to run from trouble.
at the time that
From this reading When he had finished he looked at the clock, and was surprised to find that it was only a little after eight.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading During the course of an hour and a half, he seemed to have lived and suffered a year and a half.
