used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Stephen Duncan had taken the boys West, and would be gone a month or more.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading They had grown so much, Mrs. Whitcomb said, and were almost men.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Stephen Duncan had taken the boys West, and would be gone a month or more.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Stuart would rather take life just as it is, picking out the best for himself, to be sure, and not minding much what scraps fall to other people.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Which do _you_ like best?” asked Fan.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Stephen Duncan had taken the boys West, and would be gone a month or more.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading “Which do _you_ like best?” asked Fan.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Stephen Duncan had taken the boys West, and would be gone a month or more.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading “I think Louis will make the nobler character.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Which do _you_ like best?” asked Fan.
DuncannounUS /ˈdʌŋkən/
United States dancer and pioneer of modern dance (1878-1927)
From this reading Stephen Duncan had taken the boys West, and would be gone a month or more.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading Stuart would rather take life just as it is, picking out the best for himself, to be sure, and not minding much what scraps fall to other people.
FanverbUS /fæn/
strike out (a batter), (of a pitcher)
From this reading “Which do _you_ like best?” asked Fan.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Stuart would rather take life just as it is, picking out the best for himself, to be sure, and not minding much what scraps fall to other people.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Stephen Duncan had taken the boys West, and would be gone a month or more.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading They had grown so much, Mrs. Whitcomb said, and were almost men.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Stephen Duncan had taken the boys West, and would be gone a month or more.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Stuart would rather take life just as it is, picking out the best for himself, to be sure, and not minding much what scraps fall to other people.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I think Louis will make the nobler character.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Stuart would rather take life just as it is, picking out the best for himself, to be sure, and not minding much what scraps fall to other people.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Stuart would rather take life just as it is, picking out the best for himself, to be sure, and not minding much what scraps fall to other people.
and nothing more
From this reading Stuart would rather take life just as it is, picking out the best for himself, to be sure, and not minding much what scraps fall to other people.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Stuart would rather take life just as it is, picking out the best for himself, to be sure, and not minding much what scraps fall to other people.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “Which do _you_ like best?” asked Fan.
United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion for 12 years (1914-1981)
From this reading “I think Louis will make the nobler character.
engage in
From this reading “I think Louis will make the nobler character.
the force of workers available
From this reading They had grown so much, Mrs. Whitcomb said, and were almost men.
mindingverbUS /ˈmaɪndɪŋ/
-ing form of “mind” — be offended or bothered by; take offense with, be bothered by
From this reading Stuart would rather take life just as it is, picking out the best for himself, to be sure, and not minding much what scraps fall to other people.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Stephen Duncan had taken the boys West, and would be gone a month or more.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Stephen Duncan had taken the boys West, and would be gone a month or more.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading They had grown so much, Mrs. Whitcomb said, and were almost men.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading They had grown so much, Mrs. Whitcomb said, and were almost men.
nobleradjectiveUS /ˈnoʊblər/
comparative of “noble” — impressive in appearance
From this reading “I think Louis will make the nobler character.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Stuart would rather take life just as it is, picking out the best for himself, to be sure, and not minding much what scraps fall to other people.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Stephen Duncan had taken the boys West, and would be gone a month or more.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Stuart would rather take life just as it is, picking out the best for himself, to be sure, and not minding much what scraps fall to other people.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Stuart would rather take life just as it is, picking out the best for himself, to be sure, and not minding much what scraps fall to other people.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Stuart would rather take life just as it is, picking out the best for himself, to be sure, and not minding much what scraps fall to other people.
pickingnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋ/
the quantity of a crop that is harvested
From this reading Stuart would rather take life just as it is, picking out the best for himself, to be sure, and not minding much what scraps fall to other people.
on the contrary
From this reading Stuart would rather take life just as it is, picking out the best for himself, to be sure, and not minding much what scraps fall to other people.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading They had grown so much, Mrs. Whitcomb said, and were almost men.
scrapsnounUS /skræps/
food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)
From this reading Stuart would rather take life just as it is, picking out the best for himself, to be sure, and not minding much what scraps fall to other people.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They had grown so much, Mrs. Whitcomb said, and were almost men.
StephennounUS /ˈstiːvən/
English writer (1832-1904)
From this reading Stephen Duncan had taken the boys West, and would be gone a month or more.
StuartnounUS /ˈstuːərt/
United States painter best known for his portraits of George Washington (1755-1828)
From this reading Stuart would rather take life just as it is, picking out the best for himself, to be sure, and not minding much what scraps fall to other people.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Stuart would rather take life just as it is, picking out the best for himself, to be sure, and not minding much what scraps fall to other people.
carry out
From this reading Stuart would rather take life just as it is, picking out the best for himself, to be sure, and not minding much what scraps fall to other people.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Stephen Duncan had taken the boys West, and would be gone a month or more.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Stephen Duncan had taken the boys West, and would be gone a month or more.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had grown so much, Mrs. Whitcomb said, and were almost men.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “I think Louis will make the nobler character.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Stuart would rather take life just as it is, picking out the best for himself, to be sure, and not minding much what scraps fall to other people.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They had grown so much, Mrs. Whitcomb said, and were almost men.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading Stephen Duncan had taken the boys West, and would be gone a month or more.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Stuart would rather take life just as it is, picking out the best for himself, to be sure, and not minding much what scraps fall to other people.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “Which do _you_ like best?” asked Fan.
Whitcomb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had grown so much, Mrs. Whitcomb said, and were almost men.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “I think Louis will make the nobler character.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Stephen Duncan had taken the boys West, and would be gone a month or more.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Which do _you_ like best?” asked Fan.
