used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The servant pretended to clean the benches around the wall, and made a scanty fire in the great black stove, as the morning was cool and the air damp and musty.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The servant pretended to clean the benches around the wall, and made a scanty fire in the great black stove, as the morning was cool and the air damp and musty.
(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 It was an important day for the landlord of the inn, as it was that of the principal fair, which brought crowds of people of all sorts to the town.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an important day for the landlord of the inn, as it was that of the principal fair, which brought crowds of people of all sorts to the town.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The day had scarcely begun to dawn when, in Kamionker's house, everybody, with the exception of the little children, was awake and stirring.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The servant pretended to clean the benches around the wall, and made a scanty fire in the great black stove, as the morning was cool and the air damp and musty.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was an important day for the landlord of the inn, as it was that of the principal fair, which brought crowds of people of all sorts to the town.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading The day had scarcely begun to dawn when, in Kamionker's house, everybody, with the exception of the little children, was awake and stirring.
bar-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next to the guest rooms was the large bar-room, where, during the fair, crowds of country people were wont to drink and to dance.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The day had scarcely begun to dawn when, in Kamionker's house, everybody, with the exception of the little children, was awake and stirring.
benchesnounUS /ˈbentʃɪz/
plural of “bench” — a long seat for more than one person
From this reading The servant pretended to clean the benches around the wall, and made a scanty fire in the great black stove, as the morning was cool and the air damp and musty.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The servant pretended to clean the benches around the wall, and made a scanty fire in the great black stove, as the morning was cool and the air damp and musty.
cause to be bored
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
a youthful male person
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading It was an important day for the landlord of the inn, as it was that of the principal fair, which brought crowds of people of all sorts to the town.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The day had scarcely begun to dawn when, in Kamionker's house, everybody, with the exception of the little children, was awake and stirring.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading The servant pretended to clean the benches around the wall, and made a scanty fire in the great black stove, as the morning was cool and the air damp and musty.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading The servant pretended to clean the benches around the wall, and made a scanty fire in the great black stove, as the morning was cool and the air damp and musty.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Next to the guest rooms was the large bar-room, where, during the fair, crowds of country people were wont to drink and to dance.
crowdsnounUS /kraʊdz/
plural of “crowd” — a large number of things or people considered together
From this reading It was an important day for the landlord of the inn, as it was that of the principal fair, which brought crowds of people of all sorts to the town.
customersnounUS /ˈkʌstəmərz/
plural of “customer” — someone who pays for goods or services
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading The servant pretended to clean the benches around the wall, and made a scanty fire in the great black stove, as the morning was cool and the air damp and musty.
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading Next to the guest rooms was the large bar-room, where, during the fair, crowds of country people were wont to drink and to dance.
plural of “daughter” — a female human offspring
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
the first light of day
From this reading The day had scarcely begun to dawn when, in Kamionker's house, everybody, with the exception of the little children, was awake and stirring.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The day had scarcely begun to dawn when, in Kamionker's house, everybody, with the exception of the little children, was awake and stirring.
(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
take in liquids
From this reading Next to the guest rooms was the large bar-room, where, during the fair, crowds of country people were wont to drink and to dance.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Next to the guest rooms was the large bar-room, where, during the fair, crowds of country people were wont to drink and to dance.
every person
From this reading The day had scarcely begun to dawn when, in Kamionker's house, everybody, with the exception of the little children, was awake and stirring.
exceptionnounUS /ɪkˈsepʃən/
a deliberate act of omission
From this reading The day had scarcely begun to dawn when, in Kamionker's house, everybody, with the exception of the little children, was awake and stirring.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading It was an important day for the landlord of the inn, as it was that of the principal fair, which brought crowds of people of all sorts to the town.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The servant pretended to clean the benches around the wall, and made a scanty fire in the great black stove, as the morning was cool and the air damp and musty.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was an important day for the landlord of the inn, as it was that of the principal fair, which brought crowds of people of all sorts to the town.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The servant pretended to clean the benches around the wall, and made a scanty fire in the great black stove, as the morning was cool and the air damp and musty.
a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The day had scarcely begun to dawn when, in Kamionker's house, everybody, with the exception of the little children, was awake and stirring.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The day had scarcely begun to dawn when, in Kamionker's house, everybody, with the exception of the little children, was awake and stirring.
of great significance or value
From this reading It was an important day for the landlord of the inn, as it was that of the principal fair, which brought crowds of people of all sorts to the town.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The day had scarcely begun to dawn when, in Kamionker's house, everybody, with the exception of the little children, was awake and stirring.
a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
From this reading It was an important day for the landlord of the inn, as it was that of the principal fair, which brought crowds of people of all sorts to the town.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an important day for the landlord of the inn, as it was that of the principal fair, which brought crowds of people of all sorts to the town.
Jankiel's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
Kamionker's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day had scarcely begun to dawn when, in Kamionker's house, everybody, with the exception of the little children, was awake and stirring.
landlordnounUS /ˈlændlɔːrd/
a landowner who leases to others
From this reading It was an important day for the landlord of the inn, as it was that of the principal fair, which brought crowds of people of all sorts to the town.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Next to the guest rooms was the large bar-room, where, during the fair, crowds of country people were wont to drink and to dance.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The day had scarcely begun to dawn when, in Kamionker's house, everybody, with the exception of the little children, was awake and stirring.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The servant pretended to clean the benches around the wall, and made a scanty fire in the great black stove, as the morning was cool and the air damp and musty.
maliciousadjectiveUS /məˈlɪʃəs/
having the nature of or resulting from malice
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
MendelnounUS /ˈmendəl/
Augustinian monk and botanist whose experiments in breeding garden peas led to his eventual recognition as founder of the science of genetics (1822-1884)
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The servant pretended to clean the benches around the wall, and made a scanty fire in the great black stove, as the morning was cool and the air damp and musty.
Moshe's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
mustyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌsti/
covered with or smelling of mold
From this reading The servant pretended to clean the benches around the wall, and made a scanty fire in the great black stove, as the morning was cool and the air damp and musty.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Next to the guest rooms was the large bar-room, where, during the fair, crowds of country people were wont to drink and to dance.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The day had scarcely begun to dawn when, in Kamionker's house, everybody, with the exception of the little children, was awake and stirring.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading It was an important day for the landlord of the inn, as it was that of the principal fair, which brought crowds of people of all sorts to the town.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
preparingverbUS /priˈperɪŋ/
-ing form of “prepare” — make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
pretendedadjectiveUS /priˈtendɪd/
adopted in order to deceive
From this reading The servant pretended to clean the benches around the wall, and made a scanty fire in the great black stove, as the morning was cool and the air damp and musty.
the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
From this reading It was an important day for the landlord of the inn, as it was that of the principal fair, which brought crowds of people of all sorts to the town.
Rebnoun
“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
scantyadjectiveUS /ˈskænti/
lacking in magnitude or quantity
From this reading The servant pretended to clean the benches around the wall, and made a scanty fire in the great black stove, as the morning was cool and the air damp and musty.
only a very short time before
From this reading The day had scarcely begun to dawn when, in Kamionker's house, everybody, with the exception of the little children, was awake and stirring.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading The servant pretended to clean the benches around the wall, and made a scanty fire in the great black stove, as the morning was cool and the air damp and musty.
slatternlyadjective
characteristic of or befitting a slut or slattern; used especially of women
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading It was an important day for the landlord of the inn, as it was that of the principal fair, which brought crowds of people of all sorts to the town.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading The day had scarcely begun to dawn when, in Kamionker's house, everybody, with the exception of the little children, was awake and stirring.
stovenounUS /stoʊv/
a kitchen appliance used for cooking food
From this reading The servant pretended to clean the benches around the wall, and made a scanty fire in the great black stove, as the morning was cool and the air damp and musty.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was an important day for the landlord of the inn, as it was that of the principal fair, which brought crowds of people of all sorts to the town.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The day had scarcely begun to dawn when, in Kamionker's house, everybody, with the exception of the little children, was awake and stirring.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The day had scarcely begun to dawn when, in Kamionker's house, everybody, with the exception of the little children, was awake and stirring.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading It was an important day for the landlord of the inn, as it was that of the principal fair, which brought crowds of people of all sorts to the town.
tracesnounUS /ˈtreɪsəz/
plural of “trace” — a just detectable amount
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
trainingnounUS /ˈtreɪnɪŋ/
activity leading to skilled behavior
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
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 The servant pretended to clean the benches around the wall, and made a scanty fire in the great black stove, as the morning was cool and the air damp and musty.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The day had scarcely begun to dawn when, in Kamionker's house, everybody, with the exception of the little children, was awake and stirring.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
at the time that
From this reading The day had scarcely begun to dawn when, in Kamionker's house, everybody, with the exception of the little children, was awake and stirring.
in or at the place that
From this reading Next to the guest rooms was the large bar-room, where, during the fair, crowds of country people were wont to drink and to dance.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was an important day for the landlord of the inn, as it was that of the principal fair, which brought crowds of people of all sorts to the town.
belonging to which person
From this reading Both Jankiel's daughters, two strong, plain, and slatternly girls, with the help of the boy Mendel, whose stupid, malicious face bore the traces of Reb Moshe's training, were busy preparing the two guest rooms for the arrival of distinguished customers.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The day had scarcely begun to dawn when, in Kamionker's house, everybody, with the exception of the little children, was awake and stirring.
wontnounUS /woʊnt/
an established custom
From this reading Next to the guest rooms was the large bar-room, where, during the fair, crowds of country people were wont to drink and to dance.
