used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He was leaning against a stone pillar, when one of the bigger boys came up to him.
amuseverbUS /əˈmjuːz/
occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion
From this reading There was a square plot of grass in the centre, where the boys used to amuse themselves during the intervals of school-work; when it was wet they would walk round the covered cloister.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading One boy, of about eleven years, was standing by himself, looking shyly on without taking any part in the games of the others.
aren't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You’re the new probationer solo-boy, aren’t you?” he demanded.
Bede's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
biggeradjectiveUS /ˈbɪɡər/
large or big relative to something else
From this reading He was leaning against a stone pillar, when one of the bigger boys came up to him.
a youthful male person
From this reading One boy, of about eleven years, was standing by himself, looking shyly on without taking any part in the games of the others.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading One boy, of about eleven years, was standing by himself, looking shyly on without taking any part in the games of the others.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He was leaning against a stone pillar, when one of the bigger boys came up to him.
cathedralnounUS /kəˈθiːdrəl/
any large and important church
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading There was a square plot of grass in the centre, where the boys used to amuse themselves during the intervals of school-work; when it was wet they would walk round the covered cloister.
ChoirnounUS /ˈkwaɪər/
a chorus that sings as part of a religious ceremony
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
cloisterverbUS /ˈklɔɪstər/
surround with a cloister, as of a garden
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading There was a square plot of grass in the centre, where the boys used to amuse themselves during the intervals of school-work; when it was wet they would walk round the covered cloister.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading “You’re the new probationer solo-boy, aren’t you?” he demanded.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading There was a square plot of grass in the centre, where the boys used to amuse themselves during the intervals of school-work; when it was wet they would walk round the covered cloister.
being one more than ten
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
gamesnounUS /ɡeɪmz/
plural of “game” — a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading One boy, of about eleven years, was standing by himself, looking shyly on without taking any part in the games of the others.
of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading There was a square plot of grass in the centre, where the boys used to amuse themselves during the intervals of school-work; when it was wet they would walk round the covered cloister.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was leaning against a stone pillar, when one of the bigger boys came up to him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was leaning against a stone pillar, when one of the bigger boys came up to him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading One boy, of about eleven years, was standing by himself, looking shyly on without taking any part in the games of the others.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
intervalsnounUS /ˈɪntərvəlz/
plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading There was a square plot of grass in the centre, where the boys used to amuse themselves during the intervals of school-work; when it was wet they would walk round the covered cloister.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading He was leaning against a stone pillar, when one of the bigger boys came up to him.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading One boy, of about eleven years, was standing by himself, looking shyly on without taking any part in the games of the others.
appealing to the emotions as well as the eye
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading “You’re the new probationer solo-boy, aren’t you?” he demanded.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One boy, of about eleven years, was standing by himself, looking shyly on without taking any part in the games of the others.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One boy, of about eleven years, was standing by himself, looking shyly on without taking any part in the games of the others.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One boy, of about eleven years, was standing by himself, looking shyly on without taking any part in the games of the others.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading One boy, of about eleven years, was standing by himself, looking shyly on without taking any part in the games of the others.
pillarnounUS /ˈpɪlər/
a fundamental principle or practice
From this reading He was leaning against a stone pillar, when one of the bigger boys came up to him.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
plotnounUS /plɑːt/
a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)
From this reading There was a square plot of grass in the centre, where the boys used to amuse themselves during the intervals of school-work; when it was wet they would walk round the covered cloister.
probationernounUS /proʊˈbeɪʃənər/
a nurse in training who is undergoing a trial period
From this reading “You’re the new probationer solo-boy, aren’t you?” he demanded.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading There was a square plot of grass in the centre, where the boys used to amuse themselves during the intervals of school-work; when it was wet they would walk round the covered cloister.
an educational institution
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
school-work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a square plot of grass in the centre, where the boys used to amuse themselves during the intervals of school-work; when it was wet they would walk round the covered cloister.
shylyadverbUS /ˈʃaɪli/
in a shy or timid or bashful manner
From this reading One boy, of about eleven years, was standing by himself, looking shyly on without taking any part in the games of the others.
solo-boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You’re the new probationer solo-boy, aren’t you?” he demanded.
make square
From this reading There was a square plot of grass in the centre, where the boys used to amuse themselves during the intervals of school-work; when it was wet they would walk round the covered cloister.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
having a supporting base
From this reading One boy, of about eleven years, was standing by himself, looking shyly on without taking any part in the games of the others.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading He was leaning against a stone pillar, when one of the bigger boys came up to him.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading One boy, of about eleven years, was standing by himself, looking shyly on without taking any part in the games of the others.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading There was a square plot of grass in the centre, where the boys used to amuse themselves during the intervals of school-work; when it was wet they would walk round the covered cloister.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a square plot of grass in the centre, where the boys used to amuse themselves during the intervals of school-work; when it was wet they would walk round the covered cloister.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was a square plot of grass in the centre, where the boys used to amuse themselves during the intervals of school-work; when it was wet they would walk round the covered cloister.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was a square plot of grass in the centre, where the boys used to amuse themselves during the intervals of school-work; when it was wet they would walk round the covered cloister.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He was leaning against a stone pillar, when one of the bigger boys came up to him.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading There was a square plot of grass in the centre, where the boys used to amuse themselves during the intervals of school-work; when it was wet they would walk round the covered cloister.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading There was a square plot of grass in the centre, where the boys used to amuse themselves during the intervals of school-work; when it was wet they would walk round the covered cloister.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Choir School of St. Bede’s It was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading There was a square plot of grass in the centre, where the boys used to amuse themselves during the intervals of school-work; when it was wet they would walk round the covered cloister.
at the time that
From this reading There was a square plot of grass in the centre, where the boys used to amuse themselves during the intervals of school-work; when it was wet they would walk round the covered cloister.
in or at the place that
From this reading There was a square plot of grass in the centre, where the boys used to amuse themselves during the intervals of school-work; when it was wet they would walk round the covered cloister.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading One boy, of about eleven years, was standing by himself, looking shyly on without taking any part in the games of the others.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There was a square plot of grass in the centre, where the boys used to amuse themselves during the intervals of school-work; when it was wet they would walk round the covered cloister.
a late time of life
From this reading One boy, of about eleven years, was standing by himself, looking shyly on without taking any part in the games of the others.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You’re the new probationer solo-boy, aren’t you?” he demanded.
You're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You’re the new probationer solo-boy, aren’t you?” he demanded.
