used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He halted as he saw the Cubs, and stood irresolute, as though wondering whether he should go back or proceed.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading But at first they did not notice his ragged appearance, for something in his face, his eyes, held them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He halted as he saw the Cubs, and stood irresolute, as though wondering whether he should go back or proceed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Cubs, turning from their fire, gazed in surprise at the intruder.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He halted as he saw the Cubs, and stood irresolute, as though wondering whether he should go back or proceed.
brackennounUS /ˈbrækən/
fern of southeastern Asia; not hardy in cold temperate regions
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But at first they did not notice his ragged appearance, for something in his face, his eyes, held them.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
CubsnounUS /kʌbz/
plural of “cub” — an awkward and inexperienced youth
From this reading He halted as he saw the Cubs, and stood irresolute, as though wondering whether he should go back or proceed.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But at first they did not notice his ragged appearance, for something in his face, his eyes, held them.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The evening sun, slanting through the trees, fell on his shabby figure.
opinion or judgment
From this reading But at first they did not notice his ragged appearance, for something in his face, his eyes, held them.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading But at first they did not notice his ragged appearance, for something in his face, his eyes, held them.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The evening sun, slanting through the trees, fell on his shabby figure.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading The evening sun, slanting through the trees, fell on his shabby figure.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The Cubs, turning from their fire, gazed in surprise at the intruder.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading But at first they did not notice his ragged appearance, for something in his face, his eyes, held them.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But at first they did not notice his ragged appearance, for something in his face, his eyes, held them.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading The Cubs, turning from their fire, gazed in surprise at the intruder.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He halted as he saw the Cubs, and stood irresolute, as though wondering whether he should go back or proceed.
past form of “halt” — cause to stop
From this reading He halted as he saw the Cubs, and stood irresolute, as though wondering whether he should go back or proceed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading But at first they did not notice his ragged appearance, for something in his face, his eyes, held them.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The evening sun, slanting through the trees, fell on his shabby figure.
hungernounUS /ˈhʌŋɡər/
a physiological need for food; the consequence of food deprivation
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
illnessnounUS /ˈɪlnəs/
impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Cubs, turning from their fire, gazed in surprise at the intruder.
intrudernounUS /ˌɪnˈtruːdər/
someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission
From this reading The Cubs, turning from their fire, gazed in surprise at the intruder.
irresoluteadjective
uncertain how to act or proceed
From this reading He halted as he saw the Cubs, and stood irresolute, as though wondering whether he should go back or proceed.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
of an obscure nature
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But at first they did not notice his ragged appearance, for something in his face, his eyes, held them.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading But at first they did not notice his ragged appearance, for something in his face, his eyes, held them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The evening sun, slanting through the trees, fell on his shabby figure.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
a course of conduct
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
continue talking
From this reading He halted as he saw the Cubs, and stood irresolute, as though wondering whether he should go back or proceed.
raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading But at first they did not notice his ragged appearance, for something in his face, his eyes, held them.
on the contrary
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
cut with a saw
From this reading He halted as he saw the Cubs, and stood irresolute, as though wondering whether he should go back or proceed.
shabbyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæbi/
showing signs of wear and tear
From this reading The evening sun, slanting through the trees, fell on his shabby figure.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He halted as he saw the Cubs, and stood irresolute, as though wondering whether he should go back or proceed.
slantingadjectiveUS /ˈslæntɪŋ/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading The evening sun, slanting through the trees, fell on his shabby figure.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading But at first they did not notice his ragged appearance, for something in his face, his eyes, held them.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He halted as he saw the Cubs, and stood irresolute, as though wondering whether he should go back or proceed.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The evening sun, slanting through the trees, fell on his shabby figure.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading The Cubs, turning from their fire, gazed in surprise at the intruder.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Cubs, turning from their fire, gazed in surprise at the intruder.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But at first they did not notice his ragged appearance, for something in his face, his eyes, held them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But at first they did not notice his ragged appearance, for something in his face, his eyes, held them.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He halted as he saw the Cubs, and stood irresolute, as though wondering whether he should go back or proceed.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
TRAMPnounUS /træmp/
a vagrant
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The evening sun, slanting through the trees, fell on his shabby figure.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading The Cubs, turning from their fire, gazed in surprise at the intruder.
unsteadilyadverb
in an unsteady manner
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading He halted as he saw the Cubs, and stood irresolute, as though wondering whether he should go back or proceed.
which person or people
From this reading THE COMING OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAMP He came down the little path, through the bracken, walking rather unsteadily, like a man who is weak from illness or hunger.
showing curiosity
From this reading He halted as he saw the Cubs, and stood irresolute, as though wondering whether he should go back or proceed.
