used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was a fine figure of a man, tall and straight as an Apollo, and yet he was a hobo.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
ApollonounUS /əˈpɑːloʊ/
(Greek mythology) Greek god of light; god of prophecy and poetry and music and healing; son of Zeus and Leto; twin brother of Artemis
From this reading He was a fine figure of a man, tall and straight as an Apollo, and yet he was a hobo.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Never before had Bunker Hill seen a better built man or one more open-faced and frank, but he came down the trail with the familiar hobo-limp and Bunker set his jaws and waited.
beggingnounUS /ˈbeɡɪŋ/
a solicitation for money or food (especially in the street by an apparently penniless person)
From this reading Hobo miners, the most expert of their craft, and begging their grub on the trail!
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Never before had Bunker Hill seen a better built man or one more open-faced and frank, but he came down the trail with the familiar hobo-limp and Bunker set his jaws and waited.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading It was such men as this, young and strong and full of blood, who had kept him poor for years.
blue-eyedadjective
favorite
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
a youthful male person
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading Never before had Bunker Hill seen a better built man or one more open-faced and frank, but he came down the trail with the familiar hobo-limp and Bunker set his jaws and waited.
BunkernounUS /ˈbʌŋkər/
a hazard on a golf course
From this reading Never before had Bunker Hill seen a better built man or one more open-faced and frank, but he came down the trail with the familiar hobo-limp and Bunker set his jaws and waited.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Never before had Bunker Hill seen a better built man or one more open-faced and frank, but he came down the trail with the familiar hobo-limp and Bunker set his jaws and waited.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading Hobo miners, the most expert of their craft, and begging their grub on the trail!
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
divisible by two
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
expertadjectiveUS /ˈekspərt/
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
From this reading Hobo miners, the most expert of their craft, and begging their grub on the trail!
fair-hairedadjective
favorite
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading Never before had Bunker Hill seen a better built man or one more open-faced and frank, but he came down the trail with the familiar hobo-limp and Bunker set his jaws and waited.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading He was a fine figure of a man, tall and straight as an Apollo, and yet he was a hobo.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading He was a fine figure of a man, tall and straight as an Apollo, and yet he was a hobo.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was such men as this, young and strong and full of blood, who had kept him poor for years.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading Never before had Bunker Hill seen a better built man or one more open-faced and frank, but he came down the trail with the familiar hobo-limp and Bunker set his jaws and waited.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading It was such men as this, young and strong and full of blood, who had kept him poor for years.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
grubnounUS /ɡrʌb/
informal terms for a meal
From this reading Hobo miners, the most expert of their craft, and begging their grub on the trail!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Never before had Bunker Hill seen a better built man or one more open-faced and frank, but he came down the trail with the familiar hobo-limp and Bunker set his jaws and waited.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Never before had Bunker Hill seen a better built man or one more open-faced and frank, but he came down the trail with the familiar hobo-limp and Bunker set his jaws and waited.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was such men as this, young and strong and full of blood, who had kept him poor for years.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
hobonounUS /ˈhoʊboʊ/
a vagrant
From this reading He was a fine figure of a man, tall and straight as an Apollo, and yet he was a hobo.
hobo-limp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Never before had Bunker Hill seen a better built man or one more open-faced and frank, but he came down the trail with the familiar hobo-limp and Bunker set his jaws and waited.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was such men as this, young and strong and full of blood, who had kept him poor for years.
jawsnounUS /dʒɔːz/
plural of “jaw” — the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth
From this reading Never before had Bunker Hill seen a better built man or one more open-faced and frank, but he came down the trail with the familiar hobo-limp and Bunker set his jaws and waited.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading It was such men as this, young and strong and full of blood, who had kept him poor for years.
limbedadjectiveUS /lɪmd/
having or as if having limbs, especially limbs of a specified kind (usually used in combination)
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
limpverbUS /lɪmp/
walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He was a fine figure of a man, tall and straight as an Apollo, and yet he was a hobo.
the force of workers available
From this reading It was such men as this, young and strong and full of blood, who had kept him poor for years.
minersnounUS /ˈmaɪnərz/
plural of “miner” — laborer who works in a mine
From this reading Hobo miners, the most expert of their craft, and begging their grub on the trail!
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Never before had Bunker Hill seen a better built man or one more open-faced and frank, but he came down the trail with the familiar hobo-limp and Bunker set his jaws and waited.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Hobo miners, the most expert of their craft, and begging their grub on the trail!
musclesnounUS /ˈmʌsəlz/
plural of “muscle” — one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Never before had Bunker Hill seen a better built man or one more open-faced and frank, but he came down the trail with the familiar hobo-limp and Bunker set his jaws and waited.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
obliterateverbUS /əˈblɪtəreɪt/
mark for deletion, rub off, or erase
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was a fine figure of a man, tall and straight as an Apollo, and yet he was a hobo.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Hobo miners, the most expert of their craft, and begging their grub on the trail!
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Never before had Bunker Hill seen a better built man or one more open-faced and frank, but he came down the trail with the familiar hobo-limp and Bunker set his jaws and waited.
open-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Never before had Bunker Hill seen a better built man or one more open-faced and frank, but he came down the trail with the familiar hobo-limp and Bunker set his jaws and waited.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Never before had Bunker Hill seen a better built man or one more open-faced and frank, but he came down the trail with the familiar hobo-limp and Bunker set his jaws and waited.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading It was such men as this, young and strong and full of blood, who had kept him poor for years.
rippledadjectiveUS /ˈrɪpəld/
uneven by virtue of having wrinkles or waves
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Never before had Bunker Hill seen a better built man or one more open-faced and frank, but he came down the trail with the familiar hobo-limp and Bunker set his jaws and waited.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Never before had Bunker Hill seen a better built man or one more open-faced and frank, but he came down the trail with the familiar hobo-limp and Bunker set his jaws and waited.
shirtnounUS /ʃɜːrt/
a garment worn on the upper half of the body
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
the season of growth
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
successive (without a break)
From this reading He was a fine figure of a man, tall and straight as an Apollo, and yet he was a hobo.
stridenounUS /straɪd/
a step in walking or running
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading It was such men as this, young and strong and full of blood, who had kept him poor for years.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It was such men as this, young and strong and full of blood, who had kept him poor for years.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading He was a fine figure of a man, tall and straight as an Apollo, and yet he was a hobo.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Hobo miners, the most expert of their craft, and begging their grub on the trail!
in or at that place or location
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was such men as this, young and strong and full of blood, who had kept him poor for years.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Never before had Bunker Hill seen a better built man or one more open-faced and frank, but he came down the trail with the familiar hobo-limp and Bunker set his jaws and waited.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading BIG BOY He was a big, fair-haired boy, blue-eyed and clean limbed, and as he came down the trail there was a spring to his step that not even a limp could obliterate; and at every stride the great muscles in his chest played and rippled beneath his shirt.
which person or people
From this reading It was such men as this, young and strong and full of blood, who had kept him poor for years.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Never before had Bunker Hill seen a better built man or one more open-faced and frank, but he came down the trail with the familiar hobo-limp and Bunker set his jaws and waited.
a late time of life
From this reading It was such men as this, young and strong and full of blood, who had kept him poor for years.
but in spite of that
From this reading He was a fine figure of a man, tall and straight as an Apollo, and yet he was a hobo.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading It was such men as this, young and strong and full of blood, who had kept him poor for years.
