used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Will spent his dinner-hour in Independence Square, a spot sacred to his old associates of boot-blacking propensities.
how long something has existed
From this reading The latter was a boy of Will’s own age, a bare-footed, bare-armed, ragged young citizen, with a keen, wide-awake look on his not overly clean face.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading He had already had an earnest talk with some half a dozen of the boys, and now approached another, who was just entering the Square from Walnut street.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had already had an earnest talk with some half a dozen of the boys, and now approached another, who was just entering the Square from Walnut street.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had already had an earnest talk with some half a dozen of the boys, and now approached another, who was just entering the Square from Walnut street.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading He had already had an earnest talk with some half a dozen of the boys, and now approached another, who was just entering the Square from Walnut street.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading He had already had an earnest talk with some half a dozen of the boys, and now approached another, who was just entering the Square from Walnut street.
associatesnounUS /əˈsoʊsiəts/
plural of “associate” — a person who joins with others in some activity or endeavor
From this reading Will spent his dinner-hour in Independence Square, a spot sacred to his old associates of boot-blacking propensities.
bare-armed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The latter was a boy of Will’s own age, a bare-footed, bare-armed, ragged young citizen, with a keen, wide-awake look on his not overly clean face.
bare-footed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The latter was a boy of Will’s own age, a bare-footed, bare-armed, ragged young citizen, with a keen, wide-awake look on his not overly clean face.
boot-blacking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Will spent his dinner-hour in Independence Square, a spot sacred to his old associates of boot-blacking propensities.
a youthful male person
From this reading The latter was a boy of Will’s own age, a bare-footed, bare-armed, ragged young citizen, with a keen, wide-awake look on his not overly clean face.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading He had already had an earnest talk with some half a dozen of the boys, and now approached another, who was just entering the Square from Walnut street.
citizennounUS /ˈsɪtəzən/
a native or naturalized member of a state or other political community
From this reading The latter was a boy of Will’s own age, a bare-footed, bare-armed, ragged young citizen, with a keen, wide-awake look on his not overly clean face.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading The latter was a boy of Will’s own age, a bare-footed, bare-armed, ragged young citizen, with a keen, wide-awake look on his not overly clean face.
dinner-hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Will spent his dinner-hour in Independence Square, a spot sacred to his old associates of boot-blacking propensities.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading He had already had an earnest talk with some half a dozen of the boys, and now approached another, who was just entering the Square from Walnut street.
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
From this reading He had already had an earnest talk with some half a dozen of the boys, and now approached another, who was just entering the Square from Walnut street.
the act of consuming food
From this reading He had given up eating for the pleasure of interviewing.
a movement into or inward
From this reading He had already had an earnest talk with some half a dozen of the boys, and now approached another, who was just entering the Square from Walnut street.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The latter was a boy of Will’s own age, a bare-footed, bare-armed, ragged young citizen, with a keen, wide-awake look on his not overly clean face.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had given up eating for the pleasure of interviewing.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had already had an earnest talk with some half a dozen of the boys, and now approached another, who was just entering the Square from Walnut street.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading He had given up eating for the pleasure of interviewing.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had given up eating for the pleasure of interviewing.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading He had already had an earnest talk with some half a dozen of the boys, and now approached another, who was just entering the Square from Walnut street.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had given up eating for the pleasure of interviewing.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Will spent his dinner-hour in Independence Square, a spot sacred to his old associates of boot-blacking propensities.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Will spent his dinner-hour in Independence Square, a spot sacred to his old associates of boot-blacking propensities.
IndependencenounUS /ˌɪndɪˈpendəns/
freedom from control or influence of another or others
From this reading Will spent his dinner-hour in Independence Square, a spot sacred to his old associates of boot-blacking propensities.
interviewingverbUS /ˈɪntərvjuːɪŋ/
-ing form of “interview” — conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading He had given up eating for the pleasure of interviewing.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was noon on Monday.
and nothing more
From this reading He had already had an earnest talk with some half a dozen of the boys, and now approached another, who was just entering the Square from Walnut street.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading The latter was a boy of Will’s own age, a bare-footed, bare-armed, ragged young citizen, with a keen, wide-awake look on his not overly clean face.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading The latter was a boy of Will’s own age, a bare-footed, bare-armed, ragged young citizen, with a keen, wide-awake look on his not overly clean face.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The latter was a boy of Will’s own age, a bare-footed, bare-armed, ragged young citizen, with a keen, wide-awake look on his not overly clean face.
MondaynounUS /ˈmʌndi/
the second day of the week; the first working day
From this reading It was noon on Monday.
the middle of the day
From this reading It was noon on Monday.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The latter was a boy of Will’s own age, a bare-footed, bare-armed, ragged young citizen, with a keen, wide-awake look on his not overly clean face.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He had already had an earnest talk with some half a dozen of the boys, and now approached another, who was just entering the Square from Walnut street.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Will spent his dinner-hour in Independence Square, a spot sacred to his old associates of boot-blacking propensities.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Will spent his dinner-hour in Independence Square, a spot sacred to his old associates of boot-blacking propensities.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was noon on Monday.
overlyadverbUS /ˈoʊvərli/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The latter was a boy of Will’s own age, a bare-footed, bare-armed, ragged young citizen, with a keen, wide-awake look on his not overly clean face.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The latter was a boy of Will’s own age, a bare-footed, bare-armed, ragged young citizen, with a keen, wide-awake look on his not overly clean face.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading He had given up eating for the pleasure of interviewing.
propensitiesnounUS /prəˈpensətiz/
plural of “propensity” — an inclination to do something
From this reading Will spent his dinner-hour in Independence Square, a spot sacred to his old associates of boot-blacking propensities.
raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading The latter was a boy of Will’s own age, a bare-footed, bare-armed, ragged young citizen, with a keen, wide-awake look on his not overly clean face.
concerned with religion or religious purposes
From this reading Will spent his dinner-hour in Independence Square, a spot sacred to his old associates of boot-blacking propensities.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He had already had an earnest talk with some half a dozen of the boys, and now approached another, who was just entering the Square from Walnut street.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading Will spent his dinner-hour in Independence Square, a spot sacred to his old associates of boot-blacking propensities.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Will spent his dinner-hour in Independence Square, a spot sacred to his old associates of boot-blacking propensities.
make square
From this reading Will spent his dinner-hour in Independence Square, a spot sacred to his old associates of boot-blacking propensities.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading He had already had an earnest talk with some half a dozen of the boys, and now approached another, who was just entering the Square from Walnut street.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading He had already had an earnest talk with some half a dozen of the boys, and now approached another, who was just entering the Square from Walnut street.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had given up eating for the pleasure of interviewing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Will spent his dinner-hour in Independence Square, a spot sacred to his old associates of boot-blacking propensities.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He had given up eating for the pleasure of interviewing.
WalnutnounUS /ˈwɔːlnʌt/
nut of any of various walnut trees having a wrinkled two-lobed seed with a hard shell
From this reading He had already had an earnest talk with some half a dozen of the boys, and now approached another, who was just entering the Square from Walnut street.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was noon on Monday.
which person or people
From this reading He had already had an earnest talk with some half a dozen of the boys, and now approached another, who was just entering the Square from Walnut street.
wide-awakeadjective
fully awake
From this reading The latter was a boy of Will’s own age, a bare-footed, bare-armed, ragged young citizen, with a keen, wide-awake look on his not overly clean face.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Will spent his dinner-hour in Independence Square, a spot sacred to his old associates of boot-blacking propensities.
Will'snounUS /wɪlz/
possessive form of “will” — the capability of conscious choice and decision and intention
From this reading The latter was a boy of Will’s own age, a bare-footed, bare-armed, ragged young citizen, with a keen, wide-awake look on his not overly clean face.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had already had an earnest talk with some half a dozen of the boys, and now approached another, who was just entering the Square from Walnut street.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The latter was a boy of Will’s own age, a bare-footed, bare-armed, ragged young citizen, with a keen, wide-awake look on his not overly clean face.
