She was a pretty girl and I a mere stripling; she could do better than me, in that society.

But he was a mere stripling, a boy, not worthy to share their habitat.

Ah, but I was young and callow then, a mere stripling.

When he was still a mere stripling, two major events occurred.

A mere stripling challenges the caretaker of the heavens?

"Detonation," answered a very junior aide, a mere stripling of a major.

And to think that a boy, a mere stripling of a boy, would have the gumption to thwart her brilliant scheme?

"I am sure, my good brother, that you would not be defeated in affairs of the Art by a mere stripling?"

Beside him Nefer, even under the authority of the tall hedjet crown, was a mere stripling.

My lawyer, a mere stripling, has paid me a call.