Chapter XVIII · The Tragic Adventure of the Freckled Scout

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The salesman was busy waiting on two boys, both scouts, one of whom was evidently buying a new outfit.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Tom expressed surprise at this, since the uniform which he was wearing seemed almost new.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “I suppose the new one is for Sundays,” said Artie.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Tom expressed surprise at this, since the uniform which he was wearing seemed almost new.

the two together, not just one

From this reading The salesman was busy waiting on two boys, both scouts, one of whom was evidently buying a new outfit.

a youthful male person

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading The salesman was busy waiting on two boys, both scouts, one of whom was evidently buying a new outfit.

actively or fully engaged or occupied

From this reading The salesman was busy waiting on two boys, both scouts, one of whom was evidently buying a new outfit.

the act of buying

From this reading The salesman was busy waiting on two boys, both scouts, one of whom was evidently buying a new outfit.

being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

the appearance conveyed by a person's face

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading The salesman was busy waiting on two boys, both scouts, one of whom was evidently buying a new outfit.

communicated in words

From this reading Tom expressed surprise at this, since the uniform which he was wearing seemed almost new.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “I suppose the new one is for Sundays,” said Artie.

plural of “freckle” — a small brownish spot (of the pigment melanin) on the skin

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Tom expressed surprise at this, since the uniform which he was wearing seemed almost new.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “I suppose the new one is for Sundays,” said Artie.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “I suppose the new one is for Sundays,” said Artie.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading The salesman was busy waiting on two boys, both scouts, one of whom was evidently buying a new outfit.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The salesman was busy waiting on two boys, both scouts, one of whom was evidently buying a new outfit.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The salesman was busy waiting on two boys, both scouts, one of whom was evidently buying a new outfit.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The salesman was busy waiting on two boys, both scouts, one of whom was evidently buying a new outfit.

any cohesive unit such as a military company

From this reading The salesman was busy waiting on two boys, both scouts, one of whom was evidently buying a new outfit.

constitution of the human body

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

the act of buying

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “We should worry,” said Roy.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “I suppose the new one is for Sundays,” said Artie.

a man salesperson

From this reading The salesman was busy waiting on two boys, both scouts, one of whom was evidently buying a new outfit.

plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading The salesman was busy waiting on two boys, both scouts, one of whom was evidently buying a new outfit.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Tom expressed surprise at this, since the uniform which he was wearing seemed almost new.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading “We should worry,” said Roy.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Tom expressed surprise at this, since the uniform which he was wearing seemed almost new.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

plural of “sunday” — first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

From this reading “I suppose the new one is for Sundays,” said Artie.

express a supposition

From this reading “I suppose the new one is for Sundays,” said Artie.

the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading Tom expressed surprise at this, since the uniform which he was wearing seemed almost new.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The salesman was busy waiting on two boys, both scouts, one of whom was evidently buying a new outfit.

in or at that place or location

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Tom expressed surprise at this, since the uniform which he was wearing seemed almost new.

male cat

From this reading Tom expressed surprise at this, since the uniform which he was wearing seemed almost new.

remove the edges from and cut down to the desired size

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading The salesman was busy waiting on two boys, both scouts, one of whom was evidently buying a new outfit.

always the same; showing a single form or character in all occurrences

From this reading Tom expressed surprise at this, since the uniform which he was wearing seemed almost new.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

precisely as stated

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading The salesman was busy waiting on two boys, both scouts, one of whom was evidently buying a new outfit.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The salesman was busy waiting on two boys, both scouts, one of whom was evidently buying a new outfit.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “We should worry,” said Roy.

(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)

From this reading Tom expressed surprise at this, since the uniform which he was wearing seemed almost new.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Tom expressed surprise at this, since the uniform which he was wearing seemed almost new.

which person or people

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The salesman was busy waiting on two boys, both scouts, one of whom was evidently buying a new outfit.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The boy who was doing the purchasing was of a trim physique, with very red hair and he had as many freckles upon his cheerful countenance as there are stars in the quiet sky.

be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy

From this reading “We should worry,” said Roy.