used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The boys ran up the alley, Sidney leading with both the blanket rolls, and Raymond following a short distance behind.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Close after them came the man who had rushed around the corner of the jail, and who was evidently doing his best to overtake them.
agileadjectiveUS /ˈædʒəl/
moving quickly and lightly
From this reading The man who pursued them was shorter, older, and less agile, so, although he was carrying nothing, and Sidney, at least, was well loaded, the boys managed to keep ahead.
at or in the front
From this reading The man who pursued them was shorter, older, and less agile, so, although he was carrying nothing, and Sidney, at least, was well loaded, the boys managed to keep ahead.
alleynounUS /ˈæli/
a narrow street with walls on both sides
From this reading The boys ran up the alley, Sidney leading with both the blanket rolls, and Raymond following a short distance behind.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Raymond, however, stepped on a loose stone and floundered along, barely saving himself, with his hands on the rising ground, from a complete fall.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The man who pursued them was shorter, older, and less agile, so, although he was carrying nothing, and Sidney, at least, was well loaded, the boys managed to keep ahead.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The boys ran up the alley, Sidney leading with both the blanket rolls, and Raymond following a short distance behind.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Close after them came the man who had rushed around the corner of the jail, and who was evidently doing his best to overtake them.
ascentnounUS /əˈsent/
an upward slope or grade (as in a road)
From this reading The boys found that the alley climbed up a steep slope, and they stumbled up the ascent with breathless haste.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The man who pursued them was shorter, older, and less agile, so, although he was carrying nothing, and Sidney, at least, was well loaded, the boys managed to keep ahead.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading Raymond, however, stepped on a loose stone and floundered along, barely saving himself, with his hands on the rising ground, from a complete fall.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The boys ran up the alley, Sidney leading with both the blanket rolls, and Raymond following a short distance behind.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading Close after them came the man who had rushed around the corner of the jail, and who was evidently doing his best to overtake them.
blanketnounUS /ˈblæŋkət/
bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading The boys ran up the alley, Sidney leading with both the blanket rolls, and Raymond following a short distance behind.
the two together, not just one
From this reading The boys ran up the alley, Sidney leading with both the blanket rolls, and Raymond following a short distance behind.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys ran up the alley, Sidney leading with both the blanket rolls, and Raymond following a short distance behind.
breathlessadjectiveUS /ˈbreθləs/
not breathing or able to breathe except with difficulty
From this reading The boys found that the alley climbed up a steep slope, and they stumbled up the ascent with breathless haste.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Close after them came the man who had rushed around the corner of the jail, and who was evidently doing his best to overtake them.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading The man who pursued them was shorter, older, and less agile, so, although he was carrying nothing, and Sidney, at least, was well loaded, the boys managed to keep ahead.
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading The boys found that the alley climbed up a steep slope, and they stumbled up the ascent with breathless haste.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Close after them came the man who had rushed around the corner of the jail, and who was evidently doing his best to overtake them.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading Raymond, however, stepped on a loose stone and floundered along, barely saving himself, with his hands on the rising ground, from a complete fall.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Close after them came the man who had rushed around the corner of the jail, and who was evidently doing his best to overtake them.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading The boys ran up the alley, Sidney leading with both the blanket rolls, and Raymond following a short distance behind.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading Close after them came the man who had rushed around the corner of the jail, and who was evidently doing his best to overtake them.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Close after them came the man who had rushed around the corner of the jail, and who was evidently doing his best to overtake them.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading Raymond, however, stepped on a loose stone and floundered along, barely saving himself, with his hands on the rising ground, from a complete fall.
flounderedverbUS /ˈflaʊndərd/
past form of “flounder” — walk with great difficulty
From this reading Raymond, however, stepped on a loose stone and floundered along, barely saving himself, with his hands on the rising ground, from a complete fall.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading The boys ran up the alley, Sidney leading with both the blanket rolls, and Raymond following a short distance behind.
set up or found
From this reading The boys found that the alley climbed up a steep slope, and they stumbled up the ascent with breathless haste.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Raymond, however, stepped on a loose stone and floundered along, barely saving himself, with his hands on the rising ground, from a complete fall.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Raymond, however, stepped on a loose stone and floundered along, barely saving himself, with his hands on the rising ground, from a complete fall.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Close after them came the man who had rushed around the corner of the jail, and who was evidently doing his best to overtake them.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Raymond, however, stepped on a loose stone and floundered along, barely saving himself, with his hands on the rising ground, from a complete fall.
overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
From this reading The boys found that the alley climbed up a steep slope, and they stumbled up the ascent with breathless haste.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The man who pursued them was shorter, older, and less agile, so, although he was carrying nothing, and Sidney, at least, was well loaded, the boys managed to keep ahead.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Raymond, however, stepped on a loose stone and floundered along, barely saving himself, with his hands on the rising ground, from a complete fall.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Close after them came the man who had rushed around the corner of the jail, and who was evidently doing his best to overtake them.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Raymond, however, stepped on a loose stone and floundered along, barely saving himself, with his hands on the rising ground, from a complete fall.
jailnounUS /dʒeɪl/
a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
From this reading Close after them came the man who had rushed around the corner of the jail, and who was evidently doing his best to overtake them.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The man who pursued them was shorter, older, and less agile, so, although he was carrying nothing, and Sidney, at least, was well loaded, the boys managed to keep ahead.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading The boys ran up the alley, Sidney leading with both the blanket rolls, and Raymond following a short distance behind.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading The man who pursued them was shorter, older, and less agile, so, although he was carrying nothing, and Sidney, at least, was well loaded, the boys managed to keep ahead.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading The man who pursued them was shorter, older, and less agile, so, although he was carrying nothing, and Sidney, at least, was well loaded, the boys managed to keep ahead.
loadedadjectiveUS /ˈloʊdɪd/
filled with a great quantity
From this reading The man who pursued them was shorter, older, and less agile, so, although he was carrying nothing, and Sidney, at least, was well loaded, the boys managed to keep ahead.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading Raymond, however, stepped on a loose stone and floundered along, barely saving himself, with his hands on the rising ground, from a complete fall.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Close after them came the man who had rushed around the corner of the jail, and who was evidently doing his best to overtake them.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading The man who pursued them was shorter, older, and less agile, so, although he was carrying nothing, and Sidney, at least, was well loaded, the boys managed to keep ahead.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The man who pursued them was shorter, older, and less agile, so, although he was carrying nothing, and Sidney, at least, was well loaded, the boys managed to keep ahead.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Close after them came the man who had rushed around the corner of the jail, and who was evidently doing his best to overtake them.
olderadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldər/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading The man who pursued them was shorter, older, and less agile, so, although he was carrying nothing, and Sidney, at least, was well loaded, the boys managed to keep ahead.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Raymond, however, stepped on a loose stone and floundered along, barely saving himself, with his hands on the rising ground, from a complete fall.
overtakeverbUS /ˈoʊvərteɪk/
catch up with and possibly overtake
From this reading Close after them came the man who had rushed around the corner of the jail, and who was evidently doing his best to overtake them.
a person who is being chased
From this reading The man who pursued them was shorter, older, and less agile, so, although he was carrying nothing, and Sidney, at least, was well loaded, the boys managed to keep ahead.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The boys ran up the alley, Sidney leading with both the blanket rolls, and Raymond following a short distance behind.
Raymond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boys ran up the alley, Sidney leading with both the blanket rolls, and Raymond following a short distance behind.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading Raymond, however, stepped on a loose stone and floundered along, barely saving himself, with his hands on the rising ground, from a complete fall.
rollsnounUS /roʊlz/
plural of “roll” — rotary motion of an object around its own axis
From this reading The boys ran up the alley, Sidney leading with both the blanket rolls, and Raymond following a short distance behind.
done under pressure
From this reading Close after them came the man who had rushed around the corner of the jail, and who was evidently doing his best to overtake them.
savingnounUS /ˈseɪvɪŋ/
an act of economizing; reduction in cost
From this reading Raymond, however, stepped on a loose stone and floundered along, barely saving himself, with his hands on the rising ground, from a complete fall.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading The boys ran up the alley, Sidney leading with both the blanket rolls, and Raymond following a short distance behind.
shorteradjectiveUS /ˈʃɔːrtər/
comparative of “short” — primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading The man who pursued them was shorter, older, and less agile, so, although he was carrying nothing, and Sidney, at least, was well loaded, the boys managed to keep ahead.
SidneynounUS /ˈsɪdni/
English poet (1554-1586)
From this reading The boys ran up the alley, Sidney leading with both the blanket rolls, and Raymond following a short distance behind.
an elevated geological formation
From this reading The boys found that the alley climbed up a steep slope, and they stumbled up the ascent with breathless haste.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The man who pursued them was shorter, older, and less agile, so, although he was carrying nothing, and Sidney, at least, was well loaded, the boys managed to keep ahead.
having a sharp inclination
From this reading The boys found that the alley climbed up a steep slope, and they stumbled up the ascent with breathless haste.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading Raymond, however, stepped on a loose stone and floundered along, barely saving himself, with his hands on the rising ground, from a complete fall.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Raymond, however, stepped on a loose stone and floundered along, barely saving himself, with his hands on the rising ground, from a complete fall.
stumbledverbUS /ˈstʌmbəld/
past form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily
From this reading The boys found that the alley climbed up a steep slope, and they stumbled up the ascent with breathless haste.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The boys found that the alley climbed up a steep slope, and they stumbled up the ascent with breathless haste.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The boys ran up the alley, Sidney leading with both the blanket rolls, and Raymond following a short distance behind.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Close after them came the man who had rushed around the corner of the jail, and who was evidently doing his best to overtake them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The boys found that the alley climbed up a steep slope, and they stumbled up the ascent with breathless haste.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Close after them came the man who had rushed around the corner of the jail, and who was evidently doing his best to overtake them.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The boys ran up the alley, Sidney leading with both the blanket rolls, and Raymond following a short distance behind.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Close after them came the man who had rushed around the corner of the jail, and who was evidently doing his best to overtake them.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The man who pursued them was shorter, older, and less agile, so, although he was carrying nothing, and Sidney, at least, was well loaded, the boys managed to keep ahead.
which person or people
From this reading Close after them came the man who had rushed around the corner of the jail, and who was evidently doing his best to overtake them.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The boys ran up the alley, Sidney leading with both the blanket rolls, and Raymond following a short distance behind.
