used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a small dark place that suggested nothing so much as an overflowing scrap-basket.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Over and above and under all lay the undisturbed dust of months.
adjoiningverbUS /əˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “adjoin” — lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
(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 Over and above and under all lay the undisturbed dust of months.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Papers littered the table, and spilled out of every pigeon-hole of the old secretary; papers lay in stacks along the book-shelves, and bulged from fat envelopes on the mantel-shelf.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was a small dark place that suggested nothing so much as an overflowing scrap-basket.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was a small dark place that suggested nothing so much as an overflowing scrap-basket.
the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
book-shelves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Papers littered the table, and spilled out of every pigeon-hole of the old secretary; papers lay in stacks along the book-shelves, and bulged from fat envelopes on the mantel-shelf.
bulgedverbUS /bʌldʒd/
past form of “bulge” — swell or protrude outwards
From this reading Papers littered the table, and spilled out of every pigeon-hole of the old secretary; papers lay in stacks along the book-shelves, and bulged from fat envelopes on the mantel-shelf.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
courthousenounUS /ˈkɔːrthaʊs/
a government building that houses the offices of a county government
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
dangleverbUS /ˈdæŋɡəl/
hang freely
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was a small dark place that suggested nothing so much as an overflowing scrap-basket.
dirtiestadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrtiəst/
superlative of “dirty” — soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
remove the dust from
From this reading Over and above and under all lay the undisturbed dust of months.
plural of “end” — either extremity of something that has length
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
envelopesnounUS /ˈenvəloʊps/
plural of “envelope” — a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading Papers littered the table, and spilled out of every pigeon-hole of the old secretary; papers lay in stacks along the book-shelves, and bulged from fat envelopes on the mantel-shelf.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Papers littered the table, and spilled out of every pigeon-hole of the old secretary; papers lay in stacks along the book-shelves, and bulged from fat envelopes on the mantel-shelf.
excavatedverbUS /ˈekskəveɪtɪd/
past form of “excavate” — recover through digging
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading Papers littered the table, and spilled out of every pigeon-hole of the old secretary; papers lay in stacks along the book-shelves, and bulged from fat envelopes on the mantel-shelf.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
gloomiest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
Gooch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a small dark place that suggested nothing so much as an overflowing scrap-basket.
jailnounUS /dʒeɪl/
a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Papers littered the table, and spilled out of every pigeon-hole of the old secretary; papers lay in stacks along the book-shelves, and bulged from fat envelopes on the mantel-shelf.
legaladjectiveUS /ˈliːɡəl/
established by or founded upon law or official or accepted rules
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
litteredadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtərd/
filled or scattered with a disorderly accumulation of objects or rubbish
From this reading Papers littered the table, and spilled out of every pigeon-hole of the old secretary; papers lay in stacks along the book-shelves, and bulged from fat envelopes on the mantel-shelf.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
lorenounUS /lɔːr/
knowledge gained through tradition or anecdote
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
lumpsnounUS /lʌmps/
plural of “lump” — a compact mass
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
mantel-shelf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Papers littered the table, and spilled out of every pigeon-hole of the old secretary; papers lay in stacks along the book-shelves, and bulged from fat envelopes on the mantel-shelf.
minesnounUS /maɪnz/
plural of “mine” — excavation in the earth from which ores and minerals are extracted
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Over and above and under all lay the undisturbed dust of months.
a form of address for a man
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It was a small dark place that suggested nothing so much as an overflowing scrap-basket.
NoahnounUS /ˈnoʊə/
the Hebrew patriarch who saved himself and his family and the animals by building an ark in which they survived 40 days and 40 nights of rain; the story of Noah and the flood is told in the Book of Genesis
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It was a small dark place that suggested nothing so much as an overflowing scrap-basket.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Papers littered the table, and spilled out of every pigeon-hole of the old secretary; papers lay in stacks along the book-shelves, and bulged from fat envelopes on the mantel-shelf.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Papers littered the table, and spilled out of every pigeon-hole of the old secretary; papers lay in stacks along the book-shelves, and bulged from fat envelopes on the mantel-shelf.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Papers littered the table, and spilled out of every pigeon-hole of the old secretary; papers lay in stacks along the book-shelves, and bulged from fat envelopes on the mantel-shelf.
OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Over and above and under all lay the undisturbed dust of months.
overflowingadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərfloʊɪŋ/
covered with water
From this reading It was a small dark place that suggested nothing so much as an overflowing scrap-basket.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading Papers littered the table, and spilled out of every pigeon-hole of the old secretary; papers lay in stacks along the book-shelves, and bulged from fat envelopes on the mantel-shelf.
perpetualadjectiveUS /pərˈpetʃuːəl/
continuing forever or indefinitely
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
pigeon-hole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Papers littered the table, and spilled out of every pigeon-hole of the old secretary; papers lay in stacks along the book-shelves, and bulged from fat envelopes on the mantel-shelf.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It was a small dark place that suggested nothing so much as an overflowing scrap-basket.
proximitynounUS /prɑːkˈsɪməti/
the property of being close together
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
reducedadjectiveUS /rəˈduːst/
made less in size or amount or degree
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
scrap-basket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a small dark place that suggested nothing so much as an overflowing scrap-basket.
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading Papers littered the table, and spilled out of every pigeon-hole of the old secretary; papers lay in stacks along the book-shelves, and bulged from fat envelopes on the mantel-shelf.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was a small dark place that suggested nothing so much as an overflowing scrap-basket.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was a small dark place that suggested nothing so much as an overflowing scrap-basket.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
spilledverbUS /spɪld/
past form of “spill” — cause or allow (a liquid substance) to run or flow from a container
From this reading Papers littered the table, and spilled out of every pigeon-hole of the old secretary; papers lay in stacks along the book-shelves, and bulged from fat envelopes on the mantel-shelf.
stacksnounUS /stæks/
a large number or amount
From this reading Papers littered the table, and spilled out of every pigeon-hole of the old secretary; papers lay in stacks along the book-shelves, and bulged from fat envelopes on the mantel-shelf.
stoolnounUS /stuːl/
a simple seat without a back or arms
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading It was a small dark place that suggested nothing so much as an overflowing scrap-basket.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Papers littered the table, and spilled out of every pigeon-hole of the old secretary; papers lay in stacks along the book-shelves, and bulged from fat envelopes on the mantel-shelf.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Over and above and under all lay the undisturbed dust of months.
undisturbedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndɪˈstɜːrbd/
untroubled by interference or disturbance
From this reading Over and above and under all lay the undisturbed dust of months.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a small dark place that suggested nothing so much as an overflowing scrap-basket.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
WickernounUS /ˈwɪkər/
slender flexible branches or twigs (especially of willow or some canes); used for wickerwork
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment
From this reading In the corner which was reduced to perpetual twilight by the proximity of the jail wall adjoining, Noah Wicker sat on his high stool, and by the assistance of a solitary swinging light, excavated lumps of legal lore from the mines of wisdom about him.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading In two of the gloomiest and dirtiest little rooms in the dirtiest and gloomiest of little streets that dangle at loose ends from the courthouse yard, Mr. Gooch had his office.
