used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When he had gone away, a lad of seventeen, he had been untroubled by thoughts of girls, and she had certainly wasted no meditation upon him.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Now one afternoon Happy Spradling stood with a pail, by a "spring-branch" of crystal water, as Boone came by and halted.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was still roughly dressed, judged by exacting standards, but corduroy had supplanted his old jeans, and he returned with a much developed figure and an improved bearing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When he had gone away, a lad of seventeen, he had been untroubled by thoughts of girls, and she had certainly wasted no meditation upon him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Now one afternoon Happy Spradling stood with a pail, by a "spring-branch" of crystal water, as Boone came by and halted.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading When he had gone away, a lad of seventeen, he had been untroubled by thoughts of girls, and she had certainly wasted no meditation upon him.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading But the Boone who came back was not quite the same boy who had gone away.
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading He was still roughly dressed, judged by exacting standards, but corduroy had supplanted his old jeans, and he returned with a much developed figure and an improved bearing.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading When he had gone away, a lad of seventeen, he had been untroubled by thoughts of girls, and she had certainly wasted no meditation upon him.
BoonenounUS /buːn/
an American pioneer and guide and explorer (1734-1820)
From this reading Happy Spradling, whose father had overseen the raising of Victor McCalloway's house, was only two years younger than Boone.
a youthful male person
From this reading But the Boone who came back was not quite the same boy who had gone away.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the Boone who came back was not quite the same boy who had gone away.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When he had gone away, a lad of seventeen, he had been untroubled by thoughts of girls, and she had certainly wasted no meditation upon him.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But the Boone who came back was not quite the same boy who had gone away.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading When he had gone away, a lad of seventeen, he had been untroubled by thoughts of girls, and she had certainly wasted no meditation upon him.
corduroynounUS /ˈkɔːrdərɔɪ/
a cut pile fabric with vertical ribs; usually made of cotton
From this reading He was still roughly dressed, judged by exacting standards, but corduroy had supplanted his old jeans, and he returned with a much developed figure and an improved bearing.
crystalnounUS /ˈkrɪstəl/
a solid formed by the solidification of a chemical and having a highly regular atomic structure
From this reading Now one afternoon Happy Spradling stood with a pail, by a "spring-branch" of crystal water, as Boone came by and halted.
developedadjectiveUS /dɪˈveləpt/
being changed over time so as to be e.g. stronger or more complete or more useful
From this reading He was still roughly dressed, judged by exacting standards, but corduroy had supplanted his old jeans, and he returned with a much developed figure and an improved bearing.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading He was still roughly dressed, judged by exacting standards, but corduroy had supplanted his old jeans, and he returned with a much developed figure and an improved bearing.
exactingadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzæktɪŋ/
having complicated nutritional requirements; especially growing only in special artificial cultures
From this reading He was still roughly dressed, judged by exacting standards, but corduroy had supplanted his old jeans, and he returned with a much developed figure and an improved bearing.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Happy Spradling, whose father had overseen the raising of Victor McCalloway's house, was only two years younger than Boone.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading He was still roughly dressed, judged by exacting standards, but corduroy had supplanted his old jeans, and he returned with a much developed figure and an improved bearing.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading When he had gone away, a lad of seventeen, he had been untroubled by thoughts of girls, and she had certainly wasted no meditation upon him.
destroyed or killed
From this reading When he had gone away, a lad of seventeen, he had been untroubled by thoughts of girls, and she had certainly wasted no meditation upon him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Happy Spradling, whose father had overseen the raising of Victor McCalloway's house, was only two years younger than Boone.
haltedverbUS /ˈhɔːltəd/
past form of “halt” — cause to stop
From this reading Now one afternoon Happy Spradling stood with a pail, by a "spring-branch" of crystal water, as Boone came by and halted.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading Happy Spradling, whose father had overseen the raising of Victor McCalloway's house, was only two years younger than Boone.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When he had gone away, a lad of seventeen, he had been untroubled by thoughts of girls, and she had certainly wasted no meditation upon him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When he had gone away, a lad of seventeen, he had been untroubled by thoughts of girls, and she had certainly wasted no meditation upon him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was still roughly dressed, judged by exacting standards, but corduroy had supplanted his old jeans, and he returned with a much developed figure and an improved bearing.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Happy Spradling, whose father had overseen the raising of Victor McCalloway's house, was only two years younger than Boone.
improvedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvd/
made more desirable or valuable or profitable; especially made ready for use or marketing
From this reading He was still roughly dressed, judged by exacting standards, but corduroy had supplanted his old jeans, and he returned with a much developed figure and an improved bearing.
jeansnounUS /dʒiːnz/
(used in the plural) close-fitting trousers of heavy denim for manual work or casual wear
From this reading He was still roughly dressed, judged by exacting standards, but corduroy had supplanted his old jeans, and he returned with a much developed figure and an improved bearing.
judgedverbUS /dʒʌdʒd/
past form of “judge” — determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading He was still roughly dressed, judged by exacting standards, but corduroy had supplanted his old jeans, and he returned with a much developed figure and an improved bearing.
a boy or man
From this reading When he had gone away, a lad of seventeen, he had been untroubled by thoughts of girls, and she had certainly wasted no meditation upon him.
McCalloway's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Happy Spradling, whose father had overseen the raising of Victor McCalloway's house, was only two years younger than Boone.
meditationnounUS /ˌmedəˈteɪʃən/
continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature
From this reading When he had gone away, a lad of seventeen, he had been untroubled by thoughts of girls, and she had certainly wasted no meditation upon him.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading He was still roughly dressed, judged by exacting standards, but corduroy had supplanted his old jeans, and he returned with a much developed figure and an improved bearing.
not any; not one
From this reading When he had gone away, a lad of seventeen, he had been untroubled by thoughts of girls, and she had certainly wasted no meditation upon him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But the Boone who came back was not quite the same boy who had gone away.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now one afternoon Happy Spradling stood with a pail, by a "spring-branch" of crystal water, as Boone came by and halted.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Happy Spradling, whose father had overseen the raising of Victor McCalloway's house, was only two years younger than Boone.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He was still roughly dressed, judged by exacting standards, but corduroy had supplanted his old jeans, and he returned with a much developed figure and an improved bearing.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Now one afternoon Happy Spradling stood with a pail, by a "spring-branch" of crystal water, as Boone came by and halted.
and nothing more
From this reading Happy Spradling, whose father had overseen the raising of Victor McCalloway's house, was only two years younger than Boone.
overseenverbUS /ˈoʊvərsiːn/
inflected form of “oversee” — watch and direct
From this reading Happy Spradling, whose father had overseen the raising of Victor McCalloway's house, was only two years younger than Boone.
pailnounUS /peɪl/
a roughly cylindrical vessel that is open at the top
From this reading Now one afternoon Happy Spradling stood with a pail, by a "spring-branch" of crystal water, as Boone came by and halted.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading But the Boone who came back was not quite the same boy who had gone away.
the event of something being raised upward
From this reading Happy Spradling, whose father had overseen the raising of Victor McCalloway's house, was only two years younger than Boone.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading He was still roughly dressed, judged by exacting standards, but corduroy had supplanted his old jeans, and he returned with a much developed figure and an improved bearing.
roughlyadverbUS /ˈrʌfli/
(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
From this reading He was still roughly dressed, judged by exacting standards, but corduroy had supplanted his old jeans, and he returned with a much developed figure and an improved bearing.
Identical; not different.
From this reading But the Boone who came back was not quite the same boy who had gone away.
seventeenadjectiveUS /ˈsevənˈtiːn/
being one more than sixteen
From this reading When he had gone away, a lad of seventeen, he had been untroubled by thoughts of girls, and she had certainly wasted no meditation upon him.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When he had gone away, a lad of seventeen, he had been untroubled by thoughts of girls, and she had certainly wasted no meditation upon him.
Spradling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Happy Spradling, whose father had overseen the raising of Victor McCalloway's house, was only two years younger than Boone.
spring-branch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now one afternoon Happy Spradling stood with a pail, by a "spring-branch" of crystal water, as Boone came by and halted.
standardsnounUS /ˈstændərdz/
plural of “standard” — a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated
From this reading He was still roughly dressed, judged by exacting standards, but corduroy had supplanted his old jeans, and he returned with a much developed figure and an improved bearing.
not in physical motion
From this reading He was still roughly dressed, judged by exacting standards, but corduroy had supplanted his old jeans, and he returned with a much developed figure and an improved bearing.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Now one afternoon Happy Spradling stood with a pail, by a "spring-branch" of crystal water, as Boone came by and halted.
supplantedverbUS /səˈplæntɪd/
past form of “supplant” — take the place or move into the position of
From this reading He was still roughly dressed, judged by exacting standards, but corduroy had supplanted his old jeans, and he returned with a much developed figure and an improved bearing.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Happy Spradling, whose father had overseen the raising of Victor McCalloway's house, was only two years younger than Boone.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Happy Spradling, whose father had overseen the raising of Victor McCalloway's house, was only two years younger than Boone.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading When he had gone away, a lad of seventeen, he had been untroubled by thoughts of girls, and she had certainly wasted no meditation upon him.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Happy Spradling, whose father had overseen the raising of Victor McCalloway's house, was only two years younger than Boone.
untroubledadjectiveUS /ənˈtrʌbəld/
not beset by troubles or disturbance or distress
From this reading When he had gone away, a lad of seventeen, he had been untroubled by thoughts of girls, and she had certainly wasted no meditation upon him.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading When he had gone away, a lad of seventeen, he had been untroubled by thoughts of girls, and she had certainly wasted no meditation upon him.
VictornounUS /ˈvɪktər/
a combatant who is able to defeat rivals
From this reading Happy Spradling, whose father had overseen the raising of Victor McCalloway's house, was only two years younger than Boone.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Happy Spradling, whose father had overseen the raising of Victor McCalloway's house, was only two years younger than Boone.
wastedadjectiveUS /ˈweɪstɪd/
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
From this reading When he had gone away, a lad of seventeen, he had been untroubled by thoughts of girls, and she had certainly wasted no meditation upon him.
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 Now one afternoon Happy Spradling stood with a pail, by a "spring-branch" of crystal water, as Boone came by and halted.
at the time that
From this reading When he had gone away, a lad of seventeen, he had been untroubled by thoughts of girls, and she had certainly wasted no meditation upon him.
which person or people
From this reading But the Boone who came back was not quite the same boy who had gone away.
belonging to which person
From this reading Happy Spradling, whose father had overseen the raising of Victor McCalloway's house, was only two years younger than Boone.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was still roughly dressed, judged by exacting standards, but corduroy had supplanted his old jeans, and he returned with a much developed figure and an improved bearing.
a late time of life
From this reading Happy Spradling, whose father had overseen the raising of Victor McCalloway's house, was only two years younger than Boone.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading Happy Spradling, whose father had overseen the raising of Victor McCalloway's house, was only two years younger than Boone.
