used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A dozen men were eating breakfast at the tables in the far end.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading There was the same air of indifference, with that undercurrent of tension.
(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 They were all talking and joking, but at any moment they might be called to face the grim specter of death high in the clouds.
Allison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stan spotted Allison sitting by himself at a small table near a window.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CLOUD TAG Stan entered the mess room the next morning and stood looking around.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading They were all talking and joking, but at any moment they might be called to face the grim specter of death high in the clouds.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading CLOUD TAG Stan entered the mess room the next morning and stood looking around.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A dozen men were eating breakfast at the tables in the far end.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They were all talking and joking, but at any moment they might be called to face the grim specter of death high in the clouds.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading A dozen men were eating breakfast at the tables in the far end.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They were all talking and joking, but at any moment they might be called to face the grim specter of death high in the clouds.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Stan spotted Allison sitting by himself at a small table near a window.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading They were all talking and joking, but at any moment they might be called to face the grim specter of death high in the clouds.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading CLOUD TAG Stan entered the mess room the next morning and stood looking around.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading They were all talking and joking, but at any moment they might be called to face the grim specter of death high in the clouds.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading They were all talking and joking, but at any moment they might be called to face the grim specter of death high in the clouds.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading A dozen men were eating breakfast at the tables in the far end.
the act of consuming food
From this reading A dozen men were eating breakfast at the tables in the far end.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading A dozen men were eating breakfast at the tables in the far end.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading CLOUD TAG Stan entered the mess room the next morning and stood looking around.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading They were all talking and joking, but at any moment they might be called to face the grim specter of death high in the clouds.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading A dozen men were eating breakfast at the tables in the far end.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading They were all talking and joking, but at any moment they might be called to face the grim specter of death high in the clouds.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading They were all talking and joking, but at any moment they might be called to face the grim specter of death high in the clouds.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Stan spotted Allison sitting by himself at a small table near a window.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A dozen men were eating breakfast at the tables in the far end.
unbiased impartial unconcern
From this reading There was the same air of indifference, with that undercurrent of tension.
jokingadjectiveUS /ˈdʒoʊkɪŋ/
characterized by jokes and good humor
From this reading They were all talking and joking, but at any moment they might be called to face the grim specter of death high in the clouds.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading CLOUD TAG Stan entered the mess room the next morning and stood looking around.
the force of workers available
From this reading A dozen men were eating breakfast at the tables in the far end.
messnounUS /mes/
a state of confusion and disorderliness
From this reading CLOUD TAG Stan entered the mess room the next morning and stood looking around.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading They were all talking and joking, but at any moment they might be called to face the grim specter of death high in the clouds.
a particular point in time
From this reading They were all talking and joking, but at any moment they might be called to face the grim specter of death high in the clouds.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading CLOUD TAG Stan entered the mess room the next morning and stood looking around.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Stan spotted Allison sitting by himself at a small table near a window.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading CLOUD TAG Stan entered the mess room the next morning and stood looking around.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was the same air of indifference, with that undercurrent of tension.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading CLOUD TAG Stan entered the mess room the next morning and stood looking around.
Identical; not different.
From this reading There was the same air of indifference, with that undercurrent of tension.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Stan spotted Allison sitting by himself at a small table near a window.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Stan spotted Allison sitting by himself at a small table near a window.
specternounUS /ˈspektər/
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading They were all talking and joking, but at any moment they might be called to face the grim specter of death high in the clouds.
spottedadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːtɪd/
having spots or patches (small areas of contrasting color or texture)
From this reading Stan spotted Allison sitting by himself at a small table near a window.
Stan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CLOUD TAG Stan entered the mess room the next morning and stood looking around.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading CLOUD TAG Stan entered the mess room the next morning and stood looking around.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Stan spotted Allison sitting by himself at a small table near a window.
tablesnounUS /ˈteɪbəlz/
plural of “table” — a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading A dozen men were eating breakfast at the tables in the far end.
TAGverbUS /tæɡ/
attach a tag or label to
From this reading CLOUD TAG Stan entered the mess room the next morning and stood looking around.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading They were all talking and joking, but at any moment they might be called to face the grim specter of death high in the clouds.
tensionnounUS /ˈtenʃən/
(psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense
From this reading There was the same air of indifference, with that undercurrent of tension.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was the same air of indifference, with that undercurrent of tension.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CLOUD TAG Stan entered the mess room the next morning and stood looking around.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was the same air of indifference, with that undercurrent of tension.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were all talking and joking, but at any moment they might be called to face the grim specter of death high in the clouds.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They were all talking and joking, but at any moment they might be called to face the grim specter of death high in the clouds.
undercurrentnounUS /ˈʌndərkɜːrənt/
a subdued emotional quality underlying an utterance; implicit meaning
From this reading There was the same air of indifference, with that undercurrent of tension.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was the same air of indifference, with that undercurrent of tension.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A dozen men were eating breakfast at the tables in the far end.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Stan spotted Allison sitting by himself at a small table near a window.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There was the same air of indifference, with that undercurrent of tension.
