used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
(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 What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He was a tease and a bully--and a bully is always a coward, you know.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The little girls at school avoided him.
avoidedverbUS /əˈvɔɪdɪd/
past form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading The little girls at school avoided him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
a youthful male person
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
bullynounUS /ˈbʊli/
a cruel and brutal fellow
From this reading He was a tease and a bully--and a bully is always a coward, you know.
cowardnounUS /ˈkaʊərd/
a person who shows fear or timidity
From this reading He was a tease and a bully--and a bully is always a coward, you know.
every person
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading They never knew what minute he would pull their hair, or stick out his foot suddenly and trip them up.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The little girls at school avoided him.
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 They never knew what minute he would pull their hair, or stick out his foot suddenly and trip them up.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The little girls at school avoided him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They never knew what minute he would pull their hair, or stick out his foot suddenly and trip them up.
not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
kindestadjectiveUS /ˈkaɪndəst/
superlative of “kind” — having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading They never knew what minute he would pull their hair, or stick out his foot suddenly and trip them up.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He was a tease and a bully--and a bully is always a coward, you know.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little girls at school avoided him.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading They never knew what minute he would pull their hair, or stick out his foot suddenly and trip them up.
used to form the superlative
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading They never knew what minute he would pull their hair, or stick out his foot suddenly and trip them up.
nicestadjectiveUS /ˈnaɪsɪst/
superlative of “nice” — pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading They never knew what minute he would pull their hair, or stick out his foot suddenly and trip them up.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading They never knew what minute he would pull their hair, or stick out his foot suddenly and trip them up.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
express in words
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
an educational institution
From this reading The little girls at school avoided him.
put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading They never knew what minute he would pull their hair, or stick out his foot suddenly and trip them up.
strongestadjectiveUS /ˈstrɔːŋɡəst/
superlative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading They never knew what minute he would pull their hair, or stick out his foot suddenly and trip them up.
teaseverbUS /tiːz/
annoy persistently
From this reading He was a tease and a bully--and a bully is always a coward, you know.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WAND.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They never knew what minute he would pull their hair, or stick out his foot suddenly and trip them up.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They never knew what minute he would pull their hair, or stick out his foot suddenly and trip them up.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They never knew what minute he would pull their hair, or stick out his foot suddenly and trip them up.
a special situation
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading They never knew what minute he would pull their hair, or stick out his foot suddenly and trip them up.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They never knew what minute he would pull their hair, or stick out his foot suddenly and trip them up.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
WANDnounUS /wɑːnd/
a rod used by a magician or water diviner
From this reading THE WAND.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was a tease and a bully--and a bully is always a coward, you know.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading What a pleasant thing it is to be able to say of a boy, He is the strongest boy in the village--or the most honest boy in the village--or the kindest boy in the village--or, nicest of all,--He is the best boy in the village; and what a sad thing it is to say of a boy, He is the worst boy in the village; and that is what everybody said of Peter.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They never knew what minute he would pull their hair, or stick out his foot suddenly and trip them up.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading He was a tease and a bully--and a bully is always a coward, you know.
