used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As the hours passed slowly and wearily, most of the boys became a little cranky and impatient.
anew
From this reading AT THE CAVE AGAIN By the time all the boys had washed and dressed, William had breakfast ready.
(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 AT THE CAVE AGAIN By the time all the boys had washed and dressed, William had breakfast ready.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AT THE CAVE AGAIN By the time all the boys had washed and dressed, William had breakfast ready.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the hours passed slowly and wearily, most of the boys became a little cranky and impatient.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT THE CAVE AGAIN By the time all the boys had washed and dressed, William had breakfast ready.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading As the hours passed slowly and wearily, most of the boys became a little cranky and impatient.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Leaving Jack behind to keep guard at the camp and clean up the dishes in the meanwhile, the boys set out for the cave.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading AT THE CAVE AGAIN By the time all the boys had washed and dressed, William had breakfast ready.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading AT THE CAVE AGAIN By the time all the boys had washed and dressed, William had breakfast ready.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Most of them were tense and impatient, but on the whole, they felt good.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading AT THE CAVE AGAIN By the time all the boys had washed and dressed, William had breakfast ready.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading Leaving Jack behind to keep guard at the camp and clean up the dishes in the meanwhile, the boys set out for the cave.
a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading AT THE CAVE AGAIN By the time all the boys had washed and dressed, William had breakfast ready.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading Leaving Jack behind to keep guard at the camp and clean up the dishes in the meanwhile, the boys set out for the cave.
crankyadjectiveUS /ˈkræŋki/
(used of boats) inclined to heel over easily under sail
From this reading As the hours passed slowly and wearily, most of the boys became a little cranky and impatient.
destinationnounUS /ˌdestəˈneɪʃən/
the place designated as the end (as of a race or journey)
From this reading At their destination, the boys separated, each going to his station where he lay in hiding and watched.
dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/
plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading Leaving Jack behind to keep guard at the camp and clean up the dishes in the meanwhile, the boys set out for the cave.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading AT THE CAVE AGAIN By the time all the boys had washed and dressed, William had breakfast ready.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading At their destination, the boys separated, each going to his station where he lay in hiding and watched.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Most of them were tense and impatient, but on the whole, they felt good.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Leaving Jack behind to keep guard at the camp and clean up the dishes in the meanwhile, the boys set out for the cave.
the act of departing
From this reading At their destination, the boys separated, each going to his station where he lay in hiding and watched.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Most of them were tense and impatient, but on the whole, they felt good.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading Leaving Jack behind to keep guard at the camp and clean up the dishes in the meanwhile, the boys set out for the cave.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading AT THE CAVE AGAIN By the time all the boys had washed and dressed, William had breakfast ready.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At their destination, the boys separated, each going to his station where he lay in hiding and watched.
hidingnounUS /ˈhaɪdɪŋ/
the activity of keeping something secret
From this reading At their destination, the boys separated, each going to his station where he lay in hiding and watched.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading At their destination, the boys separated, each going to his station where he lay in hiding and watched.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading As the hours passed slowly and wearily, most of the boys became a little cranky and impatient.
restless or short-tempered under delay or opposition
From this reading Most of them were tense and impatient, but on the whole, they felt good.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Leaving Jack behind to keep guard at the camp and clean up the dishes in the meanwhile, the boys set out for the cave.
a small worthless amount
From this reading Leaving Jack behind to keep guard at the camp and clean up the dishes in the meanwhile, the boys set out for the cave.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Leaving Jack behind to keep guard at the camp and clean up the dishes in the meanwhile, the boys set out for the cave.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading At their destination, the boys separated, each going to his station where he lay in hiding and watched.
the act of departing
From this reading Leaving Jack behind to keep guard at the camp and clean up the dishes in the meanwhile, the boys set out for the cave.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading As the hours passed slowly and wearily, most of the boys became a little cranky and impatient.
at the same time but in another place
From this reading Leaving Jack behind to keep guard at the camp and clean up the dishes in the meanwhile, the boys set out for the cave.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Most of them were tense and impatient, but on the whole, they felt good.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Most of them were tense and impatient, but on the whole, they felt good.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Most of them were tense and impatient, but on the whole, they felt good.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Leaving Jack behind to keep guard at the camp and clean up the dishes in the meanwhile, the boys set out for the cave.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading As the hours passed slowly and wearily, most of the boys became a little cranky and impatient.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading AT THE CAVE AGAIN By the time all the boys had washed and dressed, William had breakfast ready.
being or feeling set or kept apart from others
From this reading At their destination, the boys separated, each going to his station where he lay in hiding and watched.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Leaving Jack behind to keep guard at the camp and clean up the dishes in the meanwhile, the boys set out for the cave.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading As the hours passed slowly and wearily, most of the boys became a little cranky and impatient.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading At their destination, the boys separated, each going to his station where he lay in hiding and watched.
tensenounUS /tens/
a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
From this reading Most of them were tense and impatient, but on the whole, they felt good.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT THE CAVE AGAIN By the time all the boys had washed and dressed, William had breakfast ready.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading At their destination, the boys separated, each going to his station where he lay in hiding and watched.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Most of them were tense and impatient, but on the whole, they felt good.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Most of them were tense and impatient, but on the whole, they felt good.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading AT THE CAVE AGAIN By the time all the boys had washed and dressed, William had breakfast ready.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Leaving Jack behind to keep guard at the camp and clean up the dishes in the meanwhile, the boys set out for the cave.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Leaving Jack behind to keep guard at the camp and clean up the dishes in the meanwhile, the boys set out for the cave.
clean by virtue of having been washed in water
From this reading AT THE CAVE AGAIN By the time all the boys had washed and dressed, William had breakfast ready.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading At their destination, the boys separated, each going to his station where he lay in hiding and watched.
wearilyadverbUS /ˈwerəli/
in a weary manner
From this reading As the hours passed slowly and wearily, most of the boys became a little cranky and impatient.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Most of them were tense and impatient, but on the whole, they felt good.
in or at the place that
From this reading At their destination, the boys separated, each going to his station where he lay in hiding and watched.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Most of them were tense and impatient, but on the whole, they felt good.
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AT THE CAVE AGAIN By the time all the boys had washed and dressed, William had breakfast ready.
