adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
apparentlyadverbUS /əˈperəntli/
from appearances alone
From this reading Perhaps he is a spider, for the cubby is swarming with flies, whose hum is the only noise of traffic; the glass of the window-sash has not been washed since it was put in apparently.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Perhaps he is a spider, for the cubby is swarming with flies, whose hum is the only noise of traffic; the glass of the window-sash has not been washed since it was put in apparently.
boxesnounUS /ˈbɑːksəz/
plural of “box” — a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
BrownnounUS /braʊn/
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading Mr. Brown was not in.
candlesnounUS /ˈkændəlz/
plural of “candle” — stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
clerknounUS /klɜːrk/
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
cornernounUS /ˈkɔːrnər/
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
cubbynoun
a small secluded room
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
desknounUS /desk/
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
driedadjectiveUS /draɪd/
not still wet
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
evidentlyadverbUS /ˈevədəntli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading The clerk is not writing, and has evidently no other use for his steel pen than spearing flies.
fishnounUS /fɪʃ/
any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
fliesnounUS /flaɪz/
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading Perhaps he is a spider, for the cubby is swarming with flies, whose hum is the only noise of traffic; the glass of the window-sash has not been washed since it was put in apparently.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Perhaps he is a spider, for the cubby is swarming with flies, whose hum is the only noise of traffic; the glass of the window-sash has not been washed since it was put in apparently.
fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
glassnounUS /ɡlæs/
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Perhaps he is a spider, for the cubby is swarming with flies, whose hum is the only noise of traffic; the glass of the window-sash has not been washed since it was put in apparently.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He never is in.
highadjectiveUS /haɪ/
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
humverbUS /hʌm/
sing with closed lips
From this reading Perhaps he is a spider, for the cubby is swarming with flies, whose hum is the only noise of traffic; the glass of the window-sash has not been washed since it was put in apparently.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mr. Brown was not in.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He never is in.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Perhaps he is a spider, for the cubby is swarming with flies, whose hum is the only noise of traffic; the glass of the window-sash has not been washed since it was put in apparently.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Brown was not in.
mustyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌsti/
covered with or smelling of mold
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He never is in.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The clerk is not writing, and has evidently no other use for his steel pen than spearing flies.
noisenounUS /nɔɪz/
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading Perhaps he is a spider, for the cubby is swarming with flies, whose hum is the only noise of traffic; the glass of the window-sash has not been washed since it was put in apparently.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mr. Brown was not in.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading Perhaps he is a spider, for the cubby is swarming with flies, whose hum is the only noise of traffic; the glass of the window-sash has not been washed since it was put in apparently.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The clerk is not writing, and has evidently no other use for his steel pen than spearing flies.
pennounUS /pen/
a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading The clerk is not writing, and has evidently no other use for his steel pen than spearing flies.
PerhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/
by chance
From this reading Perhaps he is a spider, for the cubby is swarming with flies, whose hum is the only noise of traffic; the glass of the window-sash has not been washed since it was put in apparently.
piledverbUS /paɪld/
past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
putverbUS /pʊt/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Perhaps he is a spider, for the cubby is swarming with flies, whose hum is the only noise of traffic; the glass of the window-sash has not been washed since it was put in apparently.
rustyadjectiveUS /ˈrʌsti/
covered with or consisting of rust
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Perhaps he is a spider, for the cubby is swarming with flies, whose hum is the only noise of traffic; the glass of the window-sash has not been washed since it was put in apparently.
sitsverbUS /sɪts/
third-person singular of “sit” — be seated
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
soapnounUS /soʊp/
a cleansing agent made from the salts of vegetable or animal fats
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
spearingverbUS /ˈspɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “spear” — pierce with a spear
From this reading The clerk is not writing, and has evidently no other use for his steel pen than spearing flies.
spidernounUS /ˈspaɪdər/
predatory arachnid with eight legs, two poison fangs, two feelers, and usually two silk-spinning organs at the back end of the body; they spin silk to make cocoons for eggs or traps for prey
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
steelnounUS /stiːl/
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading The clerk is not writing, and has evidently no other use for his steel pen than spearing flies.
storenounUS /stɔːr/
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
swarmingverbUS /ˈswɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “swarm” — be teeming, be abuzz
From this reading Perhaps he is a spider, for the cubby is swarming with flies, whose hum is the only noise of traffic; the glass of the window-sash has not been washed since it was put in apparently.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The clerk is not writing, and has evidently no other use for his steel pen than spearing flies.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Perhaps he is a spider, for the cubby is swarming with flies, whose hum is the only noise of traffic; the glass of the window-sash has not been washed since it was put in apparently.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
trafficnounUS /ˈtræfɪk/
the aggregation of things (pedestrians or vehicles) coming and going in a particular locality during a specified period of time
From this reading Perhaps he is a spider, for the cubby is swarming with flies, whose hum is the only noise of traffic; the glass of the window-sash has not been washed since it was put in apparently.
usenounUS /juːs/
the act of using
From this reading The clerk is not writing, and has evidently no other use for his steel pen than spearing flies.
warehousenounUS /ˈwerhaʊs/
a storehouse for goods and merchandise
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mr. Brown was not in.
washedadjectiveUS /wɑːʃt/
clean by virtue of having been washed in water
From this reading Perhaps he is a spider, for the cubby is swarming with flies, whose hum is the only noise of traffic; the glass of the window-sash has not been washed since it was put in apparently.
webnounUS /web/
an intricate network suggesting something that was formed by weaving or interweaving
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading Perhaps he is a spider, for the cubby is swarming with flies, whose hum is the only noise of traffic; the glass of the window-sash has not been washed since it was put in apparently.
window-sash
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps he is a spider, for the cubby is swarming with flies, whose hum is the only noise of traffic; the glass of the window-sash has not been washed since it was put in apparently.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading His store is a rusty warehouse, low and musty, piled full of boxes of soap and candles and dried fish, with a little glass cubby in one corner, where a thin clerk sits at a high desk, like a spider in his web.
writingnounUS /ˈraɪtɪŋ/
the act of creating written works
From this reading The clerk is not writing, and has evidently no other use for his steel pen than spearing flies.
