used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE MAN AT THE BROOK Beside the brook stood a shabbily-dressed man, apparently fifty-five or sixty years old.
the performance of a part or role in a drama
From this reading The man was acting in a manner to excite anybody's curiosity.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He wore an old rusty black coat and a soft hat with a hole in it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He wore an old rusty black coat and a soft hat with a hole in it.
anybody's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man was acting in a manner to excite anybody's curiosity.
from appearances alone
From this reading THE MAN AT THE BROOK Beside the brook stood a shabbily-dressed man, apparently fifty-five or sixty years old.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading He carried a stick in his hand, and was poking around in the water with it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE MAN AT THE BROOK Beside the brook stood a shabbily-dressed man, apparently fifty-five or sixty years old.
the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
From this reading His face was tanned and partly covered with a beard.
next to; at the side of
From this reading THE MAN AT THE BROOK Beside the brook stood a shabbily-dressed man, apparently fifty-five or sixty years old.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading He wore an old rusty black coat and a soft hat with a hole in it.
BROOKnounUS /brʊk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading THE MAN AT THE BROOK Beside the brook stood a shabbily-dressed man, apparently fifty-five or sixty years old.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading He carried a stick in his hand, and was poking around in the water with it.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading He wore an old rusty black coat and a soft hat with a hole in it.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading His face was tanned and partly covered with a beard.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading The man was acting in a manner to excite anybody's curiosity.
exciteverbUS /ɪkˈsaɪt/
arouse or elicit a feeling
From this reading The man was acting in a manner to excite anybody's curiosity.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His face was tanned and partly covered with a beard.
fifty-fiveadjective
being five more than fifty
From this reading THE MAN AT THE BROOK Beside the brook stood a shabbily-dressed man, apparently fifty-five or sixty years old.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He carried a stick in his hand, and was poking around in the water with it.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading He wore an old rusty black coat and a soft hat with a hole in it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He wore an old rusty black coat and a soft hat with a hole in it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His face was tanned and partly covered with a beard.
an opening into or through something
From this reading He wore an old rusty black coat and a soft hat with a hole in it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He wore an old rusty black coat and a soft hat with a hole in it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He wore an old rusty black coat and a soft hat with a hole in it.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE MAN AT THE BROOK Beside the brook stood a shabbily-dressed man, apparently fifty-five or sixty years old.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The man was acting in a manner to excite anybody's curiosity.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading THE MAN AT THE BROOK Beside the brook stood a shabbily-dressed man, apparently fifty-five or sixty years old.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THE MAN AT THE BROOK Beside the brook stood a shabbily-dressed man, apparently fifty-five or sixty years old.
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading His face was tanned and partly covered with a beard.
pokingnounUS /ˈpoʊkɪŋ/
a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)
From this reading He carried a stick in his hand, and was poking around in the water with it.
rustyadjectiveUS /ˈrʌsti/
covered with or consisting of rust
From this reading He wore an old rusty black coat and a soft hat with a hole in it.
shabbily-dressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MAN AT THE BROOK Beside the brook stood a shabbily-dressed man, apparently fifty-five or sixty years old.
sixtyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪksti/
being ten more than fifty
From this reading THE MAN AT THE BROOK Beside the brook stood a shabbily-dressed man, apparently fifty-five or sixty years old.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading He wore an old rusty black coat and a soft hat with a hole in it.
put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading He carried a stick in his hand, and was poking around in the water with it.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading THE MAN AT THE BROOK Beside the brook stood a shabbily-dressed man, apparently fifty-five or sixty years old.
tannedadjectiveUS /tænd/
(of skin) having a tan color from exposure to the sun
From this reading His face was tanned and partly covered with a beard.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MAN AT THE BROOK Beside the brook stood a shabbily-dressed man, apparently fifty-five or sixty years old.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The man was acting in a manner to excite anybody's curiosity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His face was tanned and partly covered with a beard.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading He carried a stick in his hand, and was poking around in the water with it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He wore an old rusty black coat and a soft hat with a hole in it.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading He wore an old rusty black coat and a soft hat with a hole in it.
a late time of life
From this reading THE MAN AT THE BROOK Beside the brook stood a shabbily-dressed man, apparently fifty-five or sixty years old.
