used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He could jump farther and run faster than any of the boys of his age; and this was a ground of hope.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading He had measured himself against the boys of his acquaintance; but there were hundreds of other boys in the city, and among them it was quite possible that there might be one who surpassed him.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He had measured himself against the boys of his acquaintance; but there were hundreds of other boys in the city, and among them it was quite possible that there might be one who surpassed him.
how long something has existed
From this reading He could jump farther and run faster than any of the boys of his age; and this was a ground of hope.
(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 Among his schoolmates he was distinguished for his superiority in all athletic sports.
AmongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Among his schoolmates he was distinguished for his superiority in all athletic sports.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He could jump farther and run faster than any of the boys of his age; and this was a ground of hope.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He could jump farther and run faster than any of the boys of his age; and this was a ground of hope.
athleticadjectiveUS /æθˈletɪk/
relating to or befitting athletics or athletes
From this reading Among his schoolmates he was distinguished for his superiority in all athletic sports.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading On the other hand, he could not tell how many contestants there might be.
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading The Boys' Race Ben felt that his chances of winning the prize were very good.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The Boys' Race Ben felt that his chances of winning the prize were very good.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had measured himself against the boys of his acquaintance; but there were hundreds of other boys in the city, and among them it was quite possible that there might be one who surpassed him.
plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading The Boys' Race Ben felt that his chances of winning the prize were very good.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading He had measured himself against the boys of his acquaintance; but there were hundreds of other boys in the city, and among them it was quite possible that there might be one who surpassed him.
contestantsnounUS /kənˈtestənts/
plural of “contestant” — a person who participates in competitions
From this reading On the other hand, he could not tell how many contestants there might be.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could jump farther and run faster than any of the boys of his age; and this was a ground of hope.
(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation
From this reading Among his schoolmates he was distinguished for his superiority in all athletic sports.
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading He could jump farther and run faster than any of the boys of his age; and this was a ground of hope.
fasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/
more quickly
From this reading He could jump farther and run faster than any of the boys of his age; and this was a ground of hope.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading The Boys' Race Ben felt that his chances of winning the prize were very good.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Among his schoolmates he was distinguished for his superiority in all athletic sports.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The Boys' Race Ben felt that his chances of winning the prize were very good.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading He could jump farther and run faster than any of the boys of his age; and this was a ground of hope.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had measured himself against the boys of his acquaintance; but there were hundreds of other boys in the city, and among them it was quite possible that there might be one who surpassed him.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading On the other hand, he could not tell how many contestants there might be.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Among his schoolmates he was distinguished for his superiority in all athletic sports.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had measured himself against the boys of his acquaintance; but there were hundreds of other boys in the city, and among them it was quite possible that there might be one who surpassed him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He had measured himself against the boys of his acquaintance; but there were hundreds of other boys in the city, and among them it was quite possible that there might be one who surpassed him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Boys' Race Ben felt that his chances of winning the prize were very good.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading He could jump farther and run faster than any of the boys of his age; and this was a ground of hope.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the other hand, he could not tell how many contestants there might be.
plural of “hundred” — ten 10s
From this reading He had measured himself against the boys of his acquaintance; but there were hundreds of other boys in the city, and among them it was quite possible that there might be one who surpassed him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Among his schoolmates he was distinguished for his superiority in all athletic sports.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had measured himself against the boys of his acquaintance; but there were hundreds of other boys in the city, and among them it was quite possible that there might be one who surpassed him.
move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading He could jump farther and run faster than any of the boys of his age; and this was a ground of hope.
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 On the other hand, he could not tell how many contestants there might be.
measuredadjectiveUS /ˈmeʒərd/
having notes of fixed rhythmic value
From this reading He had measured himself against the boys of his acquaintance; but there were hundreds of other boys in the city, and among them it was quite possible that there might be one who surpassed him.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading On the other hand, he could not tell how many contestants there might be.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading On the other hand, he could not tell how many contestants there might be.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Boys' Race Ben felt that his chances of winning the prize were very good.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the other hand, he could not tell how many contestants there might be.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had measured himself against the boys of his acquaintance; but there were hundreds of other boys in the city, and among them it was quite possible that there might be one who surpassed him.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading On the other hand, he could not tell how many contestants there might be.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading He had measured himself against the boys of his acquaintance; but there were hundreds of other boys in the city, and among them it was quite possible that there might be one who surpassed him.
something given for victory or superiority in a contest or competition or for winning a lottery
From this reading The Boys' Race Ben felt that his chances of winning the prize were very good.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading He had measured himself against the boys of his acquaintance; but there were hundreds of other boys in the city, and among them it was quite possible that there might be one who surpassed him.
any competition
From this reading The Boys' Race Ben felt that his chances of winning the prize were very good.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading He could jump farther and run faster than any of the boys of his age; and this was a ground of hope.
schoolmatesnounUS /ˈskuːlmeɪts/
plural of “schoolmate” — an acquaintance that you go to school with
From this reading Among his schoolmates he was distinguished for his superiority in all athletic sports.
sportsnounUS /spɔːrts/
plural of “sport” — an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition
From this reading Among his schoolmates he was distinguished for his superiority in all athletic sports.
superioritynounUS /ˌsuːpɪriˈɔːrɪti/
the quality of being superior
From this reading Among his schoolmates he was distinguished for his superiority in all athletic sports.
surpassedverbUS /sərˈpæst/
past form of “surpass” — distinguish oneself
From this reading He had measured himself against the boys of his acquaintance; but there were hundreds of other boys in the city, and among them it was quite possible that there might be one who surpassed him.
express in words
From this reading On the other hand, he could not tell how many contestants there might be.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He could jump farther and run faster than any of the boys of his age; and this was a ground of hope.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Boys' Race Ben felt that his chances of winning the prize were very good.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Boys' Race Ben felt that his chances of winning the prize were very good.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He had measured himself against the boys of his acquaintance; but there were hundreds of other boys in the city, and among them it was quite possible that there might be one who surpassed him.
in or at that place or location
From this reading On the other hand, he could not tell how many contestants there might be.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He could jump farther and run faster than any of the boys of his age; and this was a ground of hope.
precisely as stated
From this reading The Boys' Race Ben felt that his chances of winning the prize were very good.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Among his schoolmates he was distinguished for his superiority in all athletic sports.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Boys' Race Ben felt that his chances of winning the prize were very good.
which person or people
From this reading He had measured himself against the boys of his acquaintance; but there were hundreds of other boys in the city, and among them it was quite possible that there might be one who surpassed him.
winningadjectiveUS /ˈwɪnɪŋ/
having won
From this reading The Boys' Race Ben felt that his chances of winning the prize were very good.
