used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE LAD WHO HAD NEVER SEEN A GIRL.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
how long something has existed
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
apathynounUS /ˈæpəθi/
an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was tall and slender, straight as the lance shaft that he bore in one hand, and finely proportioned.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading His body was naked to the waist, below which it was covered by a pair of fringed buckskin breeches, while his feet were encased in unornamented but serviceable moccasins having soles of goat-skin.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading His body was naked to the waist, below which it was covered by a pair of fringed buckskin breeches, while his feet were encased in unornamented but serviceable moccasins having soles of goat-skin.
cause to be bored
From this reading He was tall and slender, straight as the lance shaft that he bore in one hand, and finely proportioned.
boundedadjectiveUS /ˈbaʊndəd/
having the limits or boundaries established
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
breechesnounUS /ˈbriːtʃɪz/
(used in the plural) trousers ending above the knee
From this reading His body was naked to the waist, below which it was covered by a pair of fringed buckskin breeches, while his feet were encased in unornamented but serviceable moccasins having soles of goat-skin.
bronzenounUS /brɑːnz/
an alloy of copper and tin and sometimes other elements; also any copper-base alloy containing other elements in place of tin
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
buckskinnounUS /ˈbʌkskɪn/
horse of a light yellowish dun color with dark mane and tail
From this reading His body was naked to the waist, below which it was covered by a pair of fringed buckskin breeches, while his feet were encased in unornamented but serviceable moccasins having soles of goat-skin.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His body was naked to the waist, below which it was covered by a pair of fringed buckskin breeches, while his feet were encased in unornamented but serviceable moccasins having soles of goat-skin.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His body was naked to the waist, below which it was covered by a pair of fringed buckskin breeches, while his feet were encased in unornamented but serviceable moccasins having soles of goat-skin.
clear-cutadjectiveUS /ˈklɪrkʌt/
clearly or sharply defined to the mind
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading His body was naked to the waist, below which it was covered by a pair of fringed buckskin breeches, while his feet were encased in unornamented but serviceable moccasins having soles of goat-skin.
crowverbUS /kroʊ/
dwell on with satisfaction
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
move gently or carefully
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
encasedadjectiveUS /enˈkeɪst/
covered or protected with or as if with a case
From this reading His body was naked to the waist, below which it was covered by a pair of fringed buckskin breeches, while his feet were encased in unornamented but serviceable moccasins having soles of goat-skin.
exhibitedverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪbətəd/
past form of “exhibit” — show an attribute, property, knowledge, or skill
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
communicated in words
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading His body was naked to the waist, below which it was covered by a pair of fringed buckskin breeches, while his feet were encased in unornamented but serviceable moccasins having soles of goat-skin.
finelyadverbUS /ˈfaɪnli/
in tiny pieces
From this reading He was tall and slender, straight as the lance shaft that he bore in one hand, and finely proportioned.
fringedadjective
surrounded as with a border or fringe; sometimes used in combination
From this reading His body was naked to the waist, below which it was covered by a pair of fringed buckskin breeches, while his feet were encased in unornamented but serviceable moccasins having soles of goat-skin.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
a young female
From this reading THE LAD WHO HAD NEVER SEEN A GIRL.
glossyadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɔːsi/
based on pretense; deceptively pleasing
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
goat-skin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His body was naked to the waist, below which it was covered by a pair of fringed buckskin breeches, while his feet were encased in unornamented but serviceable moccasins having soles of goat-skin.
HADauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE LAD WHO HAD NEVER SEEN A GIRL.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He was tall and slender, straight as the lance shaft that he bore in one hand, and finely proportioned.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading His body was naked to the waist, below which it was covered by a pair of fringed buckskin breeches, while his feet were encased in unornamented but serviceable moccasins having soles of goat-skin.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was tall and slender, straight as the lance shaft that he bore in one hand, and finely proportioned.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His body was naked to the waist, below which it was covered by a pair of fringed buckskin breeches, while his feet were encased in unornamented but serviceable moccasins having soles of goat-skin.
and nothing more
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
a boy or man
From this reading THE LAD WHO HAD NEVER SEEN A GIRL.
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
lancenounUS /læns/
a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
From this reading He was tall and slender, straight as the lance shaft that he bore in one hand, and finely proportioned.
full of life and energy
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
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 The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
moccasinsnounUS /ˈmɑːkəsɪnz/
plural of “moccasin” — soft leather shoe; originally worn by Native Americans
From this reading His body was naked to the waist, below which it was covered by a pair of fringed buckskin breeches, while his feet were encased in unornamented but serviceable moccasins having soles of goat-skin.
modernsnounUS /ˈmɑːdərnz/
plural of “modern” — a contemporary person
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
mountain-goat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
nakedadjectiveUS /ˈneɪkəd/
completely unclothed
From this reading His body was naked to the waist, below which it was covered by a pair of fringed buckskin breeches, while his feet were encased in unornamented but serviceable moccasins having soles of goat-skin.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading THE LAD WHO HAD NEVER SEEN A GIRL.
not one, and not any
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He was tall and slender, straight as the lance shaft that he bore in one hand, and finely proportioned.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading His body was naked to the waist, below which it was covered by a pair of fringed buckskin breeches, while his feet were encased in unornamented but serviceable moccasins having soles of goat-skin.
pathwaynounUS /ˈpæθweɪ/
a bundle of myelinated nerve fibers following a path through the brain
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
proportionedverbUS /prəˈpɔːrʃənd/
past form of “proportion” — give pleasant proportions to
From this reading He was tall and slender, straight as the lance shaft that he bore in one hand, and finely proportioned.
any competition
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
rockyadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːki/
abounding in rocks or stones
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
scalenounUS /skeɪl/
an ordered reference standard
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading THE LAD WHO HAD NEVER SEEN A GIRL.
serviceableadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrvəsəbəl/
ready for service or able to give long service
From this reading His body was naked to the waist, below which it was covered by a pair of fringed buckskin breeches, while his feet were encased in unornamented but serviceable moccasins having soles of goat-skin.
shaftnounUS /ʃæft/
a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer
From this reading He was tall and slender, straight as the lance shaft that he bore in one hand, and finely proportioned.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading He was tall and slender, straight as the lance shaft that he bore in one hand, and finely proportioned.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
solesnounUS /soʊlz/
plural of “sol” — a colloid that has a continuous liquid phase in which a solid is suspended in a liquid
From this reading His body was naked to the waist, below which it was covered by a pair of fringed buckskin breeches, while his feet were encased in unornamented but serviceable moccasins having soles of goat-skin.
move hurridly
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
having a sharp inclination
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
successive (without a break)
From this reading He was tall and slender, straight as the lance shaft that he bore in one hand, and finely proportioned.
strivingnounUS /ˈstraɪvɪŋ/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading He was tall and slender, straight as the lance shaft that he bore in one hand, and finely proportioned.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was tall and slender, straight as the lance shaft that he bore in one hand, and finely proportioned.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LAD WHO HAD NEVER SEEN A GIRL.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
ToddnounUS /tɑːd/
Scottish chemist noted for his research into the structure of nucleic acids (born in 1907)
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
unornamentedadjective
lacking embellishment or ornamentation
From this reading His body was naked to the waist, below which it was covered by a pair of fringed buckskin breeches, while his feet were encased in unornamented but serviceable moccasins having soles of goat-skin.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips
From this reading His body was naked to the waist, below which it was covered by a pair of fringed buckskin breeches, while his feet were encased in unornamented but serviceable moccasins having soles of goat-skin.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His body was naked to the waist, below which it was covered by a pair of fringed buckskin breeches, while his feet were encased in unornamented but serviceable moccasins having soles of goat-skin.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
which person or people
From this reading THE LAD WHO HAD NEVER SEEN A GIRL.
a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)
From this reading The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race.
in the company of; together with
From this reading While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat.
