adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At each recurring departure of their friends, in spite of all bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept into the hearts of the waifs.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted of the wormwood in advance of their years.
advanceverbUS /ədˈvæns/
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted of the wormwood in advance of their years.
affectionnounUS /əˈfekʃən/
a positive feeling of liking
From this reading In the struggle for existence, human affection was almost denied them.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 At each recurring departure of their friends, in spite of all bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept into the hearts of the waifs.
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading In the struggle for existence, human affection was almost denied them.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs.
asideadverbUS /əˈsaɪd/
on or to one side
From this reading Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At each recurring departure of their friends, in spite of all bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept into the hearts of the waifs.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT The boys watched the cavalcade until it faded away in the swells of the plain.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted of the wormwood in advance of their years.
boyhoodnounUS /ˈbɔɪhʊd/
the childhood of a boy
From this reading Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted of the wormwood in advance of their years.
boysnounUS /bɔɪz/
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT The boys watched the cavalcade until it faded away in the swells of the plain.
bravadonounUS /brəˈvɑːdoʊ/
a swaggering show of courage
From this reading At each recurring departure of their friends, in spite of all bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept into the hearts of the waifs.
castverbUS /kæst/
put or send forth
From this reading Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs.
cavalcadenounUS /ˈkævəlkeɪd/
a procession of people traveling on horseback
From this reading THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT The boys watched the cavalcade until it faded away in the swells of the plain.
cheerlessadjective
causing sad feelings of gloom and inadequacy
From this reading Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted of the wormwood in advance of their years.
companionnounUS /kəmˈpænjən/
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted of the wormwood in advance of their years.
contraryadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːntreri/
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
From this reading At each recurring departure of their friends, in spite of all bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept into the hearts of the waifs.
creptverbUS /krept/
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading At each recurring departure of their friends, in spite of all bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept into the hearts of the waifs.
deniedverbUS /dɪˈnaɪd/
inflected form of “deny” — declare untrue; contradict
From this reading In the struggle for existence, human affection was almost denied them.
departurenounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtʃər/
the act of departing
From this reading At each recurring departure of their friends, in spite of all bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept into the hearts of the waifs.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading At each recurring departure of their friends, in spite of all bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept into the hearts of the waifs.
existencenounUS /eɡˈzɪstəns/
the state or fact of existing
From this reading In the struggle for existence, human affection was almost denied them.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT The boys watched the cavalcade until it faded away in the swells of the plain.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs.
friendsnounUS /frendz/
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading At each recurring departure of their friends, in spite of all bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept into the hearts of the waifs.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted of the wormwood in advance of their years.
gunnounUS /ɡʌn/
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted of the wormwood in advance of their years.
heartsnounUS /hɑːrts/
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading At each recurring departure of their friends, in spite of all bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept into the hearts of the waifs.
hoopnounUS /huːp/
a light curved skeleton to spread out a skirt
From this reading Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs.
horsenounUS /hɔːrs/
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs.
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading In the struggle for existence, human affection was almost denied them.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT The boys watched the cavalcade until it faded away in the swells of the plain.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading At each recurring departure of their friends, in spite of all bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept into the hearts of the waifs.
INTRENCHMENTnoun
an entrenched fortification; a position protected by trenches
From this reading THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT The boys watched the cavalcade until it faded away in the swells of the plain.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT The boys watched the cavalcade until it faded away in the swells of the plain.
ladsnounUS /lædz/
plural of “lad” — a boy or man
From this reading Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs.
LINESnounUS /laɪnz/
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT The boys watched the cavalcade until it faded away in the swells of the plain.
livesnounUS /lɪvz/
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs.
lonelinessnounUS /ˈloʊnlinəs/
the state of being alone in solitary isolation
From this reading At each recurring departure of their friends, in spite of all bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept into the hearts of the waifs.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT The boys watched the cavalcade until it faded away in the swells of the plain.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted of the wormwood in advance of their years.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs.
pallverbUS /pɑːl/
become less interesting or attractive
From this reading At each recurring departure of their friends, in spite of all bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept into the hearts of the waifs.
pillarnounUS /ˈpɪlər/
a fundamental principle or practice
From this reading Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted of the wormwood in advance of their years.
plainadjectiveUS /pleɪn/
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT The boys watched the cavalcade until it faded away in the swells of the plain.
playedadjectiveUS /pleɪd/
(of games) engaged in
From this reading Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs.
pooradjectiveUS /puːr/
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs.
postverbUS /poʊst/
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted of the wormwood in advance of their years.
povertynounUS /ˈpɑːvərti/
the state of having little or no money and few or no material possessions
From this reading Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted of the wormwood in advance of their years.
recurringadjectiveUS /rɪˈkɜːrɪŋ/
coming back
From this reading At each recurring departure of their friends, in spite of all bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept into the hearts of the waifs.
shiftedverbUS /ˈʃɪftɪd/
past form of “shift” — make a shift in or exchange of
From this reading Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted of the wormwood in advance of their years.
spitenounUS /spaɪt/
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading At each recurring departure of their friends, in spite of all bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept into the hearts of the waifs.
struggleverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəl/
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading In the struggle for existence, human affection was almost denied them.
substituteverbUS /ˈsʌbstətuːt/
put in the place of another; switch seemingly equivalent items
From this reading Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs.
sureadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted of the wormwood in advance of their years.
swellsnounUS /swelz/
plural of “swell” — the undulating movement of the surface of the open sea
From this reading THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT The boys watched the cavalcade until it faded away in the swells of the plain.
tastedverbUS /ˈteɪstɪd/
past form of “taste” — have flavor; taste of something
From this reading Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted of the wormwood in advance of their years.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT The boys watched the cavalcade until it faded away in the swells of the plain.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading At each recurring departure of their friends, in spite of all bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept into the hearts of the waifs.
TheirspronounUS /ðerz/
the one or ones belonging to them
From this reading Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted of the wormwood in advance of their years.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading In the struggle for existence, human affection was almost denied them.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted of the wormwood in advance of their years.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At each recurring departure of their friends, in spite of all bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept into the hearts of the waifs.
ToysnounUS /tɔɪz/
plural of “toy” — an artifact designed to be played with
From this reading Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs.
unknownadjectiveUS /ənˈnoʊn/
not known
From this reading Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT The boys watched the cavalcade until it faded away in the swells of the plain.
waifs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At each recurring departure of their friends, in spite of all bravado to the contrary, a pall of loneliness crept into the hearts of the waifs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the struggle for existence, human affection was almost denied them.
watchedverbUS /wɑːtʃt/
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading THE LINES OF INTRENCHMENT The boys watched the cavalcade until it faded away in the swells of the plain.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Toys such as other lads played with for an hour and cast aside were unknown in their lives, and only the poor substitute for hoop, horse, or gun had been theirs.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted of the wormwood in advance of their years.
wormwoodnounUS /ˈwɜːrmwʊd/
any of several low composite herbs of the genera Artemisia or Seriphidium
From this reading Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted of the wormwood in advance of their years.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading Theirs had been a cheerless boyhood; shifted about from pillar to post, with poverty their one sure companion, they had tasted of the wormwood in advance of their years.
