used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If there had ever been a time when Ollie Keith hadn't been hungry, it was so far in the past that he couldn't remember it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He was hungry through and through, all one hundred and forty pounds of him, the flesh distributed so gauntly over his tall frame that in spots it seemed about to wear through, as his clothes had.
(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 He was hungry through and through, all one hundred and forty pounds of him, the flesh distributed so gauntly over his tall frame that in spots it seemed about to wear through, as his clothes had.
alleynounUS /ˈæli/
a narrow street with walls on both sides
From this reading He was hungry now as he walked through the alley, his eyes shifting lusterlessly from one heap of rubbish to the next.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was hungry through and through, all one hundred and forty pounds of him, the flesh distributed so gauntly over his tall frame that in spots it seemed about to wear through, as his clothes had.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was hungry now as he walked through the alley, his eyes shifting lusterlessly from one heap of rubbish to the next.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If there had ever been a time when Ollie Keith hadn't been hungry, it was so far in the past that he couldn't remember it.
clothing in general
From this reading He was hungry through and through, all one hundred and forty pounds of him, the flesh distributed so gauntly over his tall frame that in spots it seemed about to wear through, as his clothes had.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If there had ever been a time when Ollie Keith hadn't been hungry, it was so far in the past that he couldn't remember it.
distributedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstrɪbjətəd/
spread out or scattered about or divided up
From this reading He was hungry through and through, all one hundred and forty pounds of him, the flesh distributed so gauntly over his tall frame that in spots it seemed about to wear through, as his clothes had.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading If Ollie knew the work he was doing, he would have resigned--if resigning were possible!
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading That it hadn't done so in forty-two years sometimes struck Ollie as in the nature of a miracle.
at any time
From this reading If there had ever been a time when Ollie Keith hadn't been hungry, it was so far in the past that he couldn't remember it.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He was hungry now as he walked through the alley, his eyes shifting lusterlessly from one heap of rubbish to the next.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading If there had ever been a time when Ollie Keith hadn't been hungry, it was so far in the past that he couldn't remember it.
the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat
From this reading He was hungry through and through, all one hundred and forty pounds of him, the flesh distributed so gauntly over his tall frame that in spots it seemed about to wear through, as his clothes had.
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading He was hungry through and through, all one hundred and forty pounds of him, the flesh distributed so gauntly over his tall frame that in spots it seemed about to wear through, as his clothes had.
forty-twoadjective
being two more than forty
From this reading That it hadn't done so in forty-two years sometimes struck Ollie as in the nature of a miracle.
enclose in or as if in a frame
From this reading He was hungry through and through, all one hundred and forty pounds of him, the flesh distributed so gauntly over his tall frame that in spots it seemed about to wear through, as his clothes had.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was hungry now as he walked through the alley, his eyes shifting lusterlessly from one heap of rubbish to the next.
gauntly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was hungry through and through, all one hundred and forty pounds of him, the flesh distributed so gauntly over his tall frame that in spots it seemed about to wear through, as his clothes had.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If there had ever been a time when Ollie Keith hadn't been hungry, it was so far in the past that he couldn't remember it.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If there had ever been a time when Ollie Keith hadn't been hungry, it was so far in the past that he couldn't remember it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If Ollie knew the work he was doing, he would have resigned--if resigning were possible!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If Ollie knew the work he was doing, he would have resigned--if resigning were possible!
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading He was hungry now as he walked through the alley, his eyes shifting lusterlessly from one heap of rubbish to the next.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was hungry through and through, all one hundred and forty pounds of him, the flesh distributed so gauntly over his tall frame that in spots it seemed about to wear through, as his clothes had.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was hungry now as he walked through the alley, his eyes shifting lusterlessly from one heap of rubbish to the next.
ten 10s
From this reading He was hungry through and through, all one hundred and forty pounds of him, the flesh distributed so gauntly over his tall frame that in spots it seemed about to wear through, as his clothes had.
feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
From this reading If there had ever been a time when Ollie Keith hadn't been hungry, it was so far in the past that he couldn't remember it.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Ollie knew the work he was doing, he would have resigned--if resigning were possible!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If there had ever been a time when Ollie Keith hadn't been hungry, it was so far in the past that he couldn't remember it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If there had ever been a time when Ollie Keith hadn't been hungry, it was so far in the past that he couldn't remember it.
Keith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If there had ever been a time when Ollie Keith hadn't been hungry, it was so far in the past that he couldn't remember it.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading If Ollie knew the work he was doing, he would have resigned--if resigning were possible!
lusterlessly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was hungry now as he walked through the alley, his eyes shifting lusterlessly from one heap of rubbish to the next.
miraclenounUS /ˈmɪrəkəl/
any amazing or wonderful occurrence
From this reading That it hadn't done so in forty-two years sometimes struck Ollie as in the nature of a miracle.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading That it hadn't done so in forty-two years sometimes struck Ollie as in the nature of a miracle.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading He was hungry now as he walked through the alley, his eyes shifting lusterlessly from one heap of rubbish to the next.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He was hungry now as he walked through the alley, his eyes shifting lusterlessly from one heap of rubbish to the next.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was hungry now as he walked through the alley, his eyes shifting lusterlessly from one heap of rubbish to the next.
Ollie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Ollie knew the work he was doing, he would have resigned--if resigning were possible!
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He was hungry now as he walked through the alley, his eyes shifting lusterlessly from one heap of rubbish to the next.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He was hungry through and through, all one hundred and forty pounds of him, the flesh distributed so gauntly over his tall frame that in spots it seemed about to wear through, as his clothes had.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading If there had ever been a time when Ollie Keith hadn't been hungry, it was so far in the past that he couldn't remember it.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading If Ollie knew the work he was doing, he would have resigned--if resigning were possible!
plural of “pound” — 16 ounces avoirdupois
From this reading He was hungry through and through, all one hundred and forty pounds of him, the flesh distributed so gauntly over his tall frame that in spots it seemed about to wear through, as his clothes had.
To recall to mind.
From this reading If there had ever been a time when Ollie Keith hadn't been hungry, it was so far in the past that he couldn't remember it.
resignedverbUS /rɪˈzaɪnd/
past form of “resign” — leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily
From this reading If Ollie knew the work he was doing, he would have resigned--if resigning were possible!
resigningverbUS /rɪˈzaɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “resign” — leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily
From this reading If Ollie knew the work he was doing, he would have resigned--if resigning were possible!
rubbishnounUS /ˈrʌbɪʃ/
worthless material that is to be disposed of
From this reading He was hungry now as he walked through the alley, his eyes shifting lusterlessly from one heap of rubbish to the next.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He was hungry through and through, all one hundred and forty pounds of him, the flesh distributed so gauntly over his tall frame that in spots it seemed about to wear through, as his clothes had.
shiftingadjectiveUS /ˈʃɪftɪŋ/
continuously varying
From this reading He was hungry now as he walked through the alley, his eyes shifting lusterlessly from one heap of rubbish to the next.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading If there had ever been a time when Ollie Keith hadn't been hungry, it was so far in the past that he couldn't remember it.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading That it hadn't done so in forty-two years sometimes struck Ollie as in the nature of a miracle.
spotsnounUS /spɑːts/
spots before the eyes caused by opaque cell fragments in the vitreous humor and lens
From this reading He was hungry through and through, all one hundred and forty pounds of him, the flesh distributed so gauntly over his tall frame that in spots it seemed about to wear through, as his clothes had.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading That it hadn't done so in forty-two years sometimes struck Ollie as in the nature of a miracle.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading He was hungry through and through, all one hundred and forty pounds of him, the flesh distributed so gauntly over his tall frame that in spots it seemed about to wear through, as his clothes had.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If there had ever been a time when Ollie Keith hadn't been hungry, it was so far in the past that he couldn't remember it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If Ollie knew the work he was doing, he would have resigned--if resigning were possible!
in or at that place or location
From this reading If there had ever been a time when Ollie Keith hadn't been hungry, it was so far in the past that he couldn't remember it.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He was hungry now as he walked through the alley, his eyes shifting lusterlessly from one heap of rubbish to the next.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading If there had ever been a time when Ollie Keith hadn't been hungry, it was so far in the past that he couldn't remember it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was hungry now as he walked through the alley, his eyes shifting lusterlessly from one heap of rubbish to the next.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading He was hungry now as he walked through the alley, his eyes shifting lusterlessly from one heap of rubbish to the next.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If Ollie knew the work he was doing, he would have resigned--if resigning were possible!
be dressed in
From this reading He was hungry through and through, all one hundred and forty pounds of him, the flesh distributed so gauntly over his tall frame that in spots it seemed about to wear through, as his clothes had.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If Ollie knew the work he was doing, he would have resigned--if resigning were possible!
at the time that
From this reading If there had ever been a time when Ollie Keith hadn't been hungry, it was so far in the past that he couldn't remember it.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading If Ollie knew the work he was doing, he would have resigned--if resigning were possible!
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If Ollie knew the work he was doing, he would have resigned--if resigning were possible!
a late time of life
From this reading That it hadn't done so in forty-two years sometimes struck Ollie as in the nature of a miracle.
