used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I would hardly believe that a man as old as he seems to be could be so spry on his feet.”
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The hermit was still crashing through the underbrush after them.
united by being of the same opinion
From this reading “He sure can!” agreed Tom.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading “He’s probably lived in the woods all his life,” explained Jack, as he limped along, “and he’s like an Indian.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading “He’s probably lived in the woods all his life,” explained Jack, as he limped along, “and he’s like an Indian.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “He’s probably lived in the woods all his life,” explained Jack, as he limped along, “and he’s like an Indian.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “He’s probably lived in the woods all his life,” explained Jack, as he limped along, “and he’s like an Indian.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I would hardly believe that a man as old as he seems to be could be so spry on his feet.”
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading STRANDED “Say, he can travel some!” exclaimed Dick, looking back over his shoulders when they had gone some distance.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “I would hardly believe that a man as old as he seems to be could be so spry on his feet.”
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading “I would hardly believe that a man as old as he seems to be could be so spry on his feet.”
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading STRANDED “Say, he can travel some!” exclaimed Dick, looking back over his shoulders when they had gone some distance.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “I would hardly believe that a man as old as he seems to be could be so spry on his feet.”
crashingadjectiveUS /ˈkræʃɪŋ/
informal intensifiers
From this reading The hermit was still crashing through the underbrush after them.
someone who is a detective
From this reading STRANDED “Say, he can travel some!” exclaimed Dick, looking back over his shoulders when they had gone some distance.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading STRANDED “Say, he can travel some!” exclaimed Dick, looking back over his shoulders when they had gone some distance.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading STRANDED “Say, he can travel some!” exclaimed Dick, looking back over his shoulders when they had gone some distance.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading “He’s probably lived in the woods all his life,” explained Jack, as he limped along, “and he’s like an Indian.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading “I would hardly believe that a man as old as he seems to be could be so spry on his feet.”
destroyed or killed
From this reading STRANDED “Say, he can travel some!” exclaimed Dick, looking back over his shoulders when they had gone some distance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading STRANDED “Say, he can travel some!” exclaimed Dick, looking back over his shoulders when they had gone some distance.
only a very short time before
From this reading “I would hardly believe that a man as old as he seems to be could be so spry on his feet.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading STRANDED “Say, he can travel some!” exclaimed Dick, looking back over his shoulders when they had gone some distance.
He's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “He’s probably lived in the woods all his life,” explained Jack, as he limped along, “and he’s like an Indian.
hermitnounUS /ˈhɜːrmət/
one retired from society for religious reasons
From this reading The hermit was still crashing through the underbrush after them.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading STRANDED “Say, he can travel some!” exclaimed Dick, looking back over his shoulders when they had gone some distance.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I would hardly believe that a man as old as he seems to be could be so spry on his feet.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “He’s probably lived in the woods all his life,” explained Jack, as he limped along, “and he’s like an Indian.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading “He’s probably lived in the woods all his life,” explained Jack, as he limped along, “and he’s like an Indian.
a small worthless amount
From this reading “He’s probably lived in the woods all his life,” explained Jack, as he limped along, “and he’s like an Indian.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading “He’s probably lived in the woods all his life,” explained Jack, as he limped along, “and he’s like an Indian.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “He’s probably lived in the woods all his life,” explained Jack, as he limped along, “and he’s like an Indian.
limpedverbUS /lɪmpt/
past form of “limp” — walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury
From this reading “He’s probably lived in the woods all his life,” explained Jack, as he limped along, “and he’s like an Indian.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading “He’s probably lived in the woods all his life,” explained Jack, as he limped along, “and he’s like an Indian.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading STRANDED “Say, he can travel some!” exclaimed Dick, looking back over his shoulders when they had gone some distance.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “I would hardly believe that a man as old as he seems to be could be so spry on his feet.”
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “I would hardly believe that a man as old as he seems to be could be so spry on his feet.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “I would hardly believe that a man as old as he seems to be could be so spry on his feet.”
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading STRANDED “Say, he can travel some!” exclaimed Dick, looking back over his shoulders when they had gone some distance.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading “He’s probably lived in the woods all his life,” explained Jack, as he limped along, “and he’s like an Indian.
express in words
From this reading STRANDED “Say, he can travel some!” exclaimed Dick, looking back over his shoulders when they had gone some distance.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading “I would hardly believe that a man as old as he seems to be could be so spry on his feet.”
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading STRANDED “Say, he can travel some!” exclaimed Dick, looking back over his shoulders when they had gone some distance.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “I would hardly believe that a man as old as he seems to be could be so spry on his feet.”
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading STRANDED “Say, he can travel some!” exclaimed Dick, looking back over his shoulders when they had gone some distance.
spryadjectiveUS /spraɪ/
moving quickly and lightly
From this reading “I would hardly believe that a man as old as he seems to be could be so spry on his feet.”
not in physical motion
From this reading The hermit was still crashing through the underbrush after them.
STRANDEDadjectiveUS /ˈstrændɪd/
cut off or left behind
From this reading STRANDED “Say, he can travel some!” exclaimed Dick, looking back over his shoulders when they had gone some distance.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading “He sure can!” agreed Tom.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I would hardly believe that a man as old as he seems to be could be so spry on his feet.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The hermit was still crashing through the underbrush after them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The hermit was still crashing through the underbrush after them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading STRANDED “Say, he can travel some!” exclaimed Dick, looking back over his shoulders when they had gone some distance.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The hermit was still crashing through the underbrush after them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I would hardly believe that a man as old as he seems to be could be so spry on his feet.”
male cat
From this reading “He sure can!” agreed Tom.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading STRANDED “Say, he can travel some!” exclaimed Dick, looking back over his shoulders when they had gone some distance.
underbrushnounUS /ˈʌndərbrʌʃ/
the brush (small trees and bushes and ferns etc.) growing beneath taller trees in a wood or forest
From this reading The hermit was still crashing through the underbrush after them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The hermit was still crashing through the underbrush after them.
at the time that
From this reading STRANDED “Say, he can travel some!” exclaimed Dick, looking back over his shoulders when they had gone some distance.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading “He’s probably lived in the woods all his life,” explained Jack, as he limped along, “and he’s like an Indian.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “I would hardly believe that a man as old as he seems to be could be so spry on his feet.”
