used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Aimless Wanderer Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black with dirt that looked the product of weeks.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading For several seconds the young men stared wonderingly at this forlorn being, as if trying to account for his presence.
AimlessadjectiveUS /ˈeɪmləs/
aimlessly drifting
From this reading The Aimless Wanderer Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black with dirt that looked the product of weeks.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading "Thanks!" was all he said, as he glanced up shyly at Bob and Joe.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The clothes he wore were soiled and torn, and his shoes barely clung to his feet.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Thanks!" was all he said, as he glanced up shyly at Bob and Joe.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Thanks!" was all he said, as he glanced up shyly at Bob and Joe.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading The clothes he wore were soiled and torn, and his shoes barely clung to his feet.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The Aimless Wanderer Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black with dirt that looked the product of weeks.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading For several seconds the young men stared wonderingly at this forlorn being, as if trying to account for his presence.
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 Aimless Wanderer Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black with dirt that looked the product of weeks.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading "Thanks!" was all he said, as he glanced up shyly at Bob and Joe.
boxesnounUS /ˈbɑːksəz/
plural of “box” — a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading The Aimless Wanderer Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black with dirt that looked the product of weeks.
a youthful male person
From this reading The Aimless Wanderer Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black with dirt that looked the product of weeks.
lacking funds
From this reading Finally Bob broke the silence.
clothing in general
From this reading The clothes he wore were soiled and torn, and his shoes barely clung to his feet.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading The clothes he wore were soiled and torn, and his shoes barely clung to his feet.
dirtnounUS /dɜːrt/
the part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rock
From this reading The Aimless Wanderer Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black with dirt that looked the product of weeks.
EmergingadjectiveUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒɪŋ/
coming to maturity
From this reading The Aimless Wanderer Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black with dirt that looked the product of weeks.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The Aimless Wanderer Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black with dirt that looked the product of weeks.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The clothes he wore were soiled and torn, and his shoes barely clung to his feet.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading Finally Bob broke the silence.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For several seconds the young men stared wonderingly at this forlorn being, as if trying to account for his presence.
forlornadjectiveUS /fərˈlɔːrn/
marked by or showing hopelessness
From this reading For several seconds the young men stared wonderingly at this forlorn being, as if trying to account for his presence.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Aimless Wanderer Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black with dirt that looked the product of weeks.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading "Thanks!" was all he said, as he glanced up shyly at Bob and Joe.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The clothes he wore were soiled and torn, and his shoes barely clung to his feet.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Aimless Wanderer Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black with dirt that looked the product of weeks.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading For several seconds the young men stared wonderingly at this forlorn being, as if trying to account for his presence.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Thanks!" was all he said, as he glanced up shyly at Bob and Joe.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The Aimless Wanderer Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black with dirt that looked the product of weeks.
the force of workers available
From this reading For several seconds the young men stared wonderingly at this forlorn being, as if trying to account for his presence.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Aimless Wanderer Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black with dirt that looked the product of weeks.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading The Aimless Wanderer Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black with dirt that looked the product of weeks.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading For several seconds the young men stared wonderingly at this forlorn being, as if trying to account for his presence.
productnounUS /ˈprɑːdəkt/
commodities offered for sale
From this reading The Aimless Wanderer Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black with dirt that looked the product of weeks.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Thanks!" was all he said, as he glanced up shyly at Bob and Joe.
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading For several seconds the young men stared wonderingly at this forlorn being, as if trying to account for his presence.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading For several seconds the young men stared wonderingly at this forlorn being, as if trying to account for his presence.
a particular situation
From this reading The clothes he wore were soiled and torn, and his shoes barely clung to his feet.
shylyadverbUS /ˈʃaɪli/
in a shy or timid or bashful manner
From this reading "Thanks!" was all he said, as he glanced up shyly at Bob and Joe.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Finally Bob broke the silence.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The Aimless Wanderer Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black with dirt that looked the product of weeks.
soiledadjectiveUS /sɔɪld/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading The clothes he wore were soiled and torn, and his shoes barely clung to his feet.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading For several seconds the young men stared wonderingly at this forlorn being, as if trying to account for his presence.
an acknowledgment of appreciation
From this reading "Thanks!" was all he said, as he glanced up shyly at Bob and Joe.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Aimless Wanderer Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black with dirt that looked the product of weeks.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Aimless Wanderer Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black with dirt that looked the product of weeks.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For several seconds the young men stared wonderingly at this forlorn being, as if trying to account for his presence.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The clothes he wore were soiled and torn, and his shoes barely clung to his feet.
having edges that are jagged from injury
From this reading The clothes he wore were soiled and torn, and his shoes barely clung to his feet.
hard to endure
From this reading For several seconds the young men stared wonderingly at this forlorn being, as if trying to account for his presence.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Thanks!" was all he said, as he glanced up shyly at Bob and Joe.
WanderernounUS /ˈwɑːndərər/
someone who leads a wandering unsettled life
From this reading The Aimless Wanderer Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black with dirt that looked the product of weeks.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Aimless Wanderer Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black with dirt that looked the product of weeks.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading The Aimless Wanderer Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black with dirt that looked the product of weeks.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The clothes he wore were soiled and torn, and his shoes barely clung to his feet.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Aimless Wanderer Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black with dirt that looked the product of weeks.
wonderinglyadverb
in a curious and questioning manner
From this reading For several seconds the young men stared wonderingly at this forlorn being, as if trying to account for his presence.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading The clothes he wore were soiled and torn, and his shoes barely clung to his feet.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading For several seconds the young men stared wonderingly at this forlorn being, as if trying to account for his presence.
