used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited voice of Andy.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading And about one o'clock of the same day the telephone was kept employed carrying messages from house to house.
(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 It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And about one o'clock of the same day the telephone was kept employed carrying messages from house to house.
Andy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited voice of Andy.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
busieradjectiveUS /ˈbɪziər/
comparative of “busy” — actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading And about one o'clock of the same day the telephone was kept employed carrying messages from house to house.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading And about one o'clock of the same day the telephone was kept employed carrying messages from house to house.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited voice of Andy.
having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary
From this reading And about one o'clock of the same day the telephone was kept employed carrying messages from house to house.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited voice of Andy.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited voice of Andy.
figuredadjectiveUS /ˈfɪɡjərd/
(of e.g. fabric design) adorned with patterns
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading And about one o'clock of the same day the telephone was kept employed carrying messages from house to house.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited voice of Andy.
HamptonnounUS /ˈhæmptən/
United States musician who was the first to use the vibraphone as a jazz instrument (1913-2002)
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
only a very short time before
From this reading In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited voice of Andy.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited voice of Andy.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited voice of Andy.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited voice of Andy.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading And about one o'clock of the same day the telephone was kept employed carrying messages from house to house.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited voice of Andy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Rob, is that you?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading And about one o'clock of the same day the telephone was kept employed carrying messages from house to house.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited voice of Andy.
liftingverbUS /ˈlɪftɪŋ/
-ing form of “lift” — raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited voice of Andy.
take the midday meal
From this reading In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited voice of Andy.
messagesnounUS /ˈmesədʒəz/
plural of “message” — a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading And about one o'clock of the same day the telephone was kept employed carrying messages from house to house.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading And about one o'clock of the same day the telephone was kept employed carrying messages from house to house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And about one o'clock of the same day the telephone was kept employed carrying messages from house to house.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "THEY'RE OFF!"
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading And about one o'clock of the same day the telephone was kept employed carrying messages from house to house.
prominentlyadverbUS /ˈprɑːmənəntli/
in a prominent way
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
receivernounUS /rəˈsiːvər/
set that receives radio or tv signals
From this reading In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited voice of Andy.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited voice of Andy.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited voice of Andy.
take something away by force or without the consent of the owner
From this reading In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited voice of Andy.
Identical; not different.
From this reading And about one o'clock of the same day the telephone was kept employed carrying messages from house to house.
scoutsnounUS /skaʊts/
plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited voice of Andy.
telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading And about one o'clock of the same day the telephone was kept employed carrying messages from house to house.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
THEY'RE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "THEY'RE OFF!"
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited voice of Andy.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited voice of Andy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And about one o'clock of the same day the telephone was kept employed carrying messages from house to house.
at the time that
From this reading In fact, Rob had hardly left the lunch table when he heard a ring, and upon lifting the receiver to his ear, immediately recognized the excited voice of Andy.
which person or people
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would have been hard to find any busier boys in all Hampton that morning than the four scouts who have figured so prominently in this story.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Rob, is that you?
