used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
react verbally
From this reading The answer was explicit: "Dasn't!
goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment
From this reading With the top piece of bread carefully removed, the boy picked out and ate a few small pieces of the chicken.
a youthful male person
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked
From this reading With the top piece of bread carefully removed, the boy picked out and ate a few small pieces of the chicken.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading With the top piece of bread carefully removed, the boy picked out and ate a few small pieces of the chicken.
chickennounUS /ˈtʃɪkən/
the flesh of a chicken used for food
From this reading With the top piece of bread carefully removed, the boy picked out and ate a few small pieces of the chicken.
Dasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The answer was explicit: "Dasn't!
delicatelyadverbUS /ˈdeləkətli/
in a delicate manner
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Now, sonny, why don't you eat your sandwich right down, instead of fussing with it like that?"
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading "Now, sonny, why don't you eat your sandwich right down, instead of fussing with it like that?"
take in solid food
From this reading "Now, sonny, why don't you eat your sandwich right down, instead of fussing with it like that?"
explicitadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsplɪsət/
precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable; leaving nothing to implication
From this reading The answer was explicit: "Dasn't!
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading With the top piece of bread carefully removed, the boy picked out and ate a few small pieces of the chicken.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
fussingverbUS /ˈfʌsɪŋ/
-ing form of “fuss” — worry unnecessarily or excessively
From this reading "Now, sonny, why don't you eat your sandwich right down, instead of fussing with it like that?"
a man of refinement
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
inquisitiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkwɪzɪtɪv/
showing curiosity
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading "Now, sonny, why don't you eat your sandwich right down, instead of fussing with it like that?"
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Now, sonny, why don't you eat your sandwich right down, instead of fussing with it like that?"
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
a boy or man
From this reading The puzzled observer questioned the lad:
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "Now, sonny, why don't you eat your sandwich right down, instead of fussing with it like that?"
a person who carries a message
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Now, sonny, why don't you eat your sandwich right down, instead of fussing with it like that?"
observernounUS /əbˈzɜːrvər/
a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses
From this reading The puzzled observer questioned the lad:
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading With the top piece of bread carefully removed, the boy picked out and ate a few small pieces of the chicken.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading With the top piece of bread carefully removed, the boy picked out and ate a few small pieces of the chicken.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading With the top piece of bread carefully removed, the boy picked out and ate a few small pieces of the chicken.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading With the top piece of bread carefully removed, the boy picked out and ate a few small pieces of the chicken.
filled with bewilderment
From this reading The puzzled observer questioned the lad:
questionedverbUS /ˈkwestʃənd/
past form of “question” — challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading The puzzled observer questioned the lad:
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading With the top piece of bread carefully removed, the boy picked out and ate a few small pieces of the chicken.
precisely, exactly
From this reading "Now, sonny, why don't you eat your sandwich right down, instead of fussing with it like that?"
sandwichnounUS /ˈsændwɪtʃ/
two (or more) slices of bread with a filling between them
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading With the top piece of bread carefully removed, the boy picked out and ate a few small pieces of the chicken.
sonnynounUS /ˈsʌni/
a male child (a familiar term of address to a boy)
From this reading "Now, sonny, why don't you eat your sandwich right down, instead of fussing with it like that?"
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Now, sonny, why don't you eat your sandwich right down, instead of fussing with it like that?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
the upper part of anything
From this reading With the top piece of bread carefully removed, the boy picked out and ate a few small pieces of the chicken.
toyedverbUS /tɔɪd/
past form of “toy” — behave carelessly or indifferently
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
which person or people
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Now, sonny, why don't you eat your sandwich right down, instead of fussing with it like that?"
in the company of; together with
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
wrappernounUS /ˈræpər/
a loose dressing gown for women
From this reading The kindly and inquisitive old gentleman was interested in the messenger boy who sat on the steps of a house, and toyed delicately with a sandwich taken from its wrapper.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Now, sonny, why don't you eat your sandwich right down, instead of fussing with it like that?"
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Now, sonny, why don't you eat your sandwich right down, instead of fussing with it like that?"
