used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The ridge of his backbone made a chain of small hills under the old shirt.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was learning to make a lanyard knot with a bit of an old rope.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His face of a street-boy—a face precocious, sagacious, and ironic, with deep downward folds on each side of the thin, wide mouth—hung low over his bony knees.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
backbonenounUS /ˈbækboʊn/
a central cohesive source of support and stability
From this reading The ridge of his backbone made a chain of small hills under the old shirt.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading He was learning to make a lanyard knot with a bit of an old rope.
bonyadjectiveUS /ˈboʊni/
being very thin
From this reading His face of a street-boy—a face precocious, sagacious, and ironic, with deep downward folds on each side of the thin, wide mouth—hung low over his bony knees.
bulgingadjectiveUS /ˈbʌldʒɪŋ/
curving or bulging outward
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading The ridge of his backbone made a chain of small hills under the old shirt.
cornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/
plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading His face of a street-boy—a face precocious, sagacious, and ironic, with deep downward folds on each side of the thin, wide mouth—hung low over his bony knees.
downwardadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading His face of a street-boy—a face precocious, sagacious, and ironic, with deep downward folds on each side of the thin, wide mouth—hung low over his bony knees.
dropsnounUS /drɑːps/
plural of “drop” — a shape that is spherical and small
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading His face of a street-boy—a face precocious, sagacious, and ironic, with deep downward folds on each side of the thin, wide mouth—hung low over his bony knees.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His face of a street-boy—a face precocious, sagacious, and ironic, with deep downward folds on each side of the thin, wide mouth—hung low over his bony knees.
foldsnounUS /foʊldz/
plural of “fold” — an angular or rounded shape made by folding
From this reading His face of a street-boy—a face precocious, sagacious, and ironic, with deep downward folds on each side of the thin, wide mouth—hung low over his bony knees.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was learning to make a lanyard knot with a bit of an old rope.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading The ridge of his backbone made a chain of small hills under the old shirt.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The ridge of his backbone made a chain of small hills under the old shirt.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading His face of a street-boy—a face precocious, sagacious, and ironic, with deep downward folds on each side of the thin, wide mouth—hung low over his bony knees.
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading The noise increased.
ironicadjectiveUS /aɪˈrɑːnɪk/
humorously sarcastic or mocking
From this reading His face of a street-boy—a face precocious, sagacious, and ironic, with deep downward folds on each side of the thin, wide mouth—hung low over his bony knees.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading His face of a street-boy—a face precocious, sagacious, and ironic, with deep downward folds on each side of the thin, wide mouth—hung low over his bony knees.
knotnounUS /nɑːt/
a tight cluster of people or things
From this reading He was learning to make a lanyard knot with a bit of an old rope.
lanyardnounUS /ˈlænjərd/
a cord with an attached hook that is used to fire certain types of cannon
From this reading He was learning to make a lanyard knot with a bit of an old rope.
the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge
From this reading He was learning to make a lanyard knot with a bit of an old rope.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading His face of a street-boy—a face precocious, sagacious, and ironic, with deep downward folds on each side of the thin, wide mouth—hung low over his bony knees.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The ridge of his backbone made a chain of small hills under the old shirt.
engage in
From this reading He was learning to make a lanyard knot with a bit of an old rope.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading His face of a street-boy—a face precocious, sagacious, and ironic, with deep downward folds on each side of the thin, wide mouth—hung low over his bony knees.
mutteringnounUS /ˈmʌtərɪŋ/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
not any; not one
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading The noise increased.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The ridge of his backbone made a chain of small hills under the old shirt.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The ridge of his backbone made a chain of small hills under the old shirt.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His face of a street-boy—a face precocious, sagacious, and ironic, with deep downward folds on each side of the thin, wide mouth—hung low over his bony knees.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading His face of a street-boy—a face precocious, sagacious, and ironic, with deep downward folds on each side of the thin, wide mouth—hung low over his bony knees.
perspirationnounUS /ˌpɜːrspərˈeɪʃən/
salty fluid secreted by sweat glands
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
precociousadjectiveUS /prɪˈkoʊʃəs/
characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude)
From this reading His face of a street-boy—a face precocious, sagacious, and ironic, with deep downward folds on each side of the thin, wide mouth—hung low over his bony knees.
filled with bewilderment
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
worried and uneasy
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
ridgenounUS /rɪdʒ/
a long narrow natural elevation or striation
From this reading The ridge of his backbone made a chain of small hills under the old shirt.
a strong line
From this reading He was learning to make a lanyard knot with a bit of an old rope.
sagaciousadjective
acutely insightful and wise
From this reading His face of a street-boy—a face precocious, sagacious, and ironic, with deep downward folds on each side of the thin, wide mouth—hung low over his bony knees.
seamannounUS /ˈsiːmən/
a man who serves as a sailor
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
shirtnounUS /ʃɜːrt/
a garment worn on the upper half of the body
From this reading The ridge of his backbone made a chain of small hills under the old shirt.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading His face of a street-boy—a face precocious, sagacious, and ironic, with deep downward folds on each side of the thin, wide mouth—hung low over his bony knees.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The ridge of his backbone made a chain of small hills under the old shirt.
sniffedverbUS /snɪft/
past form of “sniff” — perceive by inhaling through the nose
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
street-boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His face of a street-boy—a face precocious, sagacious, and ironic, with deep downward folds on each side of the thin, wide mouth—hung low over his bony knees.
with strength or in a strong manner
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The ridge of his backbone made a chain of small hills under the old shirt.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading His face of a street-boy—a face precocious, sagacious, and ironic, with deep downward folds on each side of the thin, wide mouth—hung low over his bony knees.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was learning to make a lanyard knot with a bit of an old rope.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The ridge of his backbone made a chain of small hills under the old shirt.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was learning to make a lanyard knot with a bit of an old rope.
which person or people
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading His face of a street-boy—a face precocious, sagacious, and ironic, with deep downward folds on each side of the thin, wide mouth—hung low over his bony knees.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His face of a street-boy—a face precocious, sagacious, and ironic, with deep downward folds on each side of the thin, wide mouth—hung low over his bony knees.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
youngsternounUS /ˈjʌŋstər/
a young person of either sex
From this reading Small drops of perspiration stood out on his bulging forehead; he sniffed strongly from time to time, glancing out of the corners of his restless eyes at the old seaman, who took no notice of the puzzled youngster muttering at his work.
