Chapter VI · Chapter 6

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading There was a suffocating stench of cabbage in hallway and corridor as usual when Athalie came in that evening.

(of mail) marked with a destination

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Doris, now twenty-one, sprawled on a lounge in her faded wrapper reading an evening paper.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading There was a suffocating stench of cabbage in hallway and corridor as usual when Athalie came in that evening.

a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading There was a suffocating stench of cabbage in hallway and corridor as usual when Athalie came in that evening.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was a suffocating stench of cabbage in hallway and corridor as usual when Athalie came in that evening.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Catharine, a year younger, stood by a bureau, some drawers of which had been pulled out, sorting over odds and ends of crumpled finery.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

an administrative unit of government

From this reading Catharine, a year younger, stood by a bureau, some drawers of which had been pulled out, sorting over odds and ends of crumpled finery.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Catharine, a year younger, stood by a bureau, some drawers of which had been pulled out, sorting over odds and ends of crumpled finery.

any of various types of cabbage

From this reading There was a suffocating stench of cabbage in hallway and corridor as usual when Athalie came in that evening.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading There was a suffocating stench of cabbage in hallway and corridor as usual when Athalie came in that evening.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Catharine, a year younger, stood by a bureau, some drawers of which had been pulled out, sorting over odds and ends of crumpled finery.

go upward with gradual or continuous progress

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it

From this reading There was a suffocating stench of cabbage in hallway and corridor as usual when Athalie came in that evening.

of metal e.g.

From this reading Catharine, a year younger, stood by a bureau, some drawers of which had been pulled out, sorting over odds and ends of crumpled finery.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "Well," remarked Doris to Athalie, as she came in, "what do _you_ know?"

(Greek mythology) wife of Nereus and mother of the Nereids

From this reading Doris, now twenty-one, sprawled on a lounge in her faded wrapper reading an evening paper.

underpants worn by men

From this reading Catharine, a year younger, stood by a bureau, some drawers of which had been pulled out, sorting over odds and ends of crumpled finery.

plural of “end” — either extremity of something that has length

From this reading Catharine, a year younger, stood by a bureau, some drawers of which had been pulled out, sorting over odds and ends of crumpled finery.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading There was a suffocating stench of cabbage in hallway and corridor as usual when Athalie came in that evening.

having lost freshness or brilliance of color

From this reading Doris, now twenty-one, sprawled on a lounge in her faded wrapper reading an evening paper.

temporary loss of strength and energy resulting from hard physical or mental work

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

elaborate or showy attire and accessories

From this reading Catharine, a year younger, stood by a bureau, some drawers of which had been pulled out, sorting over odds and ends of crumpled finery.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

plural of “flight” — a formation of aircraft in flight

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Catharine, a year younger, stood by a bureau, some drawers of which had been pulled out, sorting over odds and ends of crumpled finery.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading There was a suffocating stench of cabbage in hallway and corridor as usual when Athalie came in that evening.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading There was a suffocating stench of cabbage in hallway and corridor as usual when Athalie came in that evening.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading "Well," remarked Doris to Athalie, as she came in, "what do _you_ know?"

a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

sit or recline comfortably

From this reading Doris, now twenty-one, sprawled on a lounge in her faded wrapper reading an evening paper.

the food served and eaten at one time

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

a particular point in time

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

tediously repetitious or lacking in variety

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Doris, now twenty-one, sprawled on a lounge in her faded wrapper reading an evening paper.

the likelihood of a thing occurring rather than not occurring

From this reading Catharine, a year younger, stood by a bureau, some drawers of which had been pulled out, sorting over odds and ends of crumpled finery.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There was a suffocating stench of cabbage in hallway and corridor as usual when Athalie came in that evening.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Catharine, a year younger, stood by a bureau, some drawers of which had been pulled out, sorting over odds and ends of crumpled finery.

above and across; more than

From this reading Catharine, a year younger, stood by a bureau, some drawers of which had been pulled out, sorting over odds and ends of crumpled finery.

a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses

From this reading Doris, now twenty-one, sprawled on a lounge in her faded wrapper reading an evening paper.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

-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 She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling

From this reading Catharine, a year younger, stood by a bureau, some drawers of which had been pulled out, sorting over odds and ends of crumpled finery.

with low volume

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading Doris, now twenty-one, sprawled on a lounge in her faded wrapper reading an evening paper.

past form of “remark” — make mention of

From this reading "Well," remarked Doris to Athalie, as she came in, "what do _you_ know?"

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Catharine, a year younger, stood by a bureau, some drawers of which had been pulled out, sorting over odds and ends of crumpled finery.

an operation that segregates items into groups according to a specified criterion

From this reading Catharine, a year younger, stood by a bureau, some drawers of which had been pulled out, sorting over odds and ends of crumpled finery.

past form of “sprawl” — sit or lie with one's limbs spread out

From this reading Doris, now twenty-one, sprawled on a lounge in her faded wrapper reading an evening paper.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

a distinctive odor that is offensively unpleasant

From this reading There was a suffocating stench of cabbage in hallway and corridor as usual when Athalie came in that evening.

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Catharine, a year younger, stood by a bureau, some drawers of which had been pulled out, sorting over odds and ends of crumpled finery.

causing difficulty in breathing especially through lack of fresh air and presence of heat

From this reading There was a suffocating stench of cabbage in hallway and corridor as usual when Athalie came in that evening.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There was a suffocating stench of cabbage in hallway and corridor as usual when Athalie came in that evening.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was a suffocating stench of cabbage in hallway and corridor as usual when Athalie came in that evening.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

very small

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

depleted of strength or energy

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty and one

From this reading Doris, now twenty-one, sprawled on a lounge in her faded wrapper reading an evening paper.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

not ventilated

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading There was a suffocating stench of cabbage in hallway and corridor as usual when Athalie came in that evening.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading There was a suffocating stench of cabbage in hallway and corridor as usual when Athalie came in that evening.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading "Well," remarked Doris to Athalie, as she came in, "what do _you_ know?"

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "Well," remarked Doris to Athalie, as she came in, "what do _you_ know?"

at the time that

From this reading There was a suffocating stench of cabbage in hallway and corridor as usual when Athalie came in that evening.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

in the company of; together with

From this reading She paused to rest a tired foot on the first step of the stairway, for a moment or two, quietly breathing her fatigue, then addressed herself to the monotonous labour before her, which was to climb five flights of unventilated stairs, let herself into the tiny apartment with her latch-key, and immediately begin her part in preparing the evening meal for three.

a loose dressing gown for women

From this reading Doris, now twenty-one, sprawled on a lounge in her faded wrapper reading an evening paper.

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading Catharine, a year younger, stood by a bureau, some drawers of which had been pulled out, sorting over odds and ends of crumpled finery.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Well," remarked Doris to Athalie, as she came in, "what do _you_ know?"

used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father

From this reading Catharine, a year younger, stood by a bureau, some drawers of which had been pulled out, sorting over odds and ends of crumpled finery.