used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He always thought of backs when he thought of a crowd, and in thinking of people he generally thought of crowds.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading His life, like the lives of most on lonely farms, was divided between crowds and days spent more or less alone.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He always thought of backs when he thought of a crowd, and in thinking of people he generally thought of crowds.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He always thought of backs when he thought of a crowd, and in thinking of people he generally thought of crowds.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The gossip that kept Marget so busy in the street did not belong to any method of living that he knew.
backsnounUS /bæks/
plural of “back” — the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
From this reading He always thought of backs when he thought of a crowd, and in thinking of people he generally thought of crowds.
bargainingnounUS /ˈbɑːrɡɪnɪŋ/
the negotiation of the terms of a transaction or agreement
From this reading Here there was no sharp cleft between lonely and full hours, between spaces of silence and the bargaining of the mart.
be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading The gossip that kept Marget so busy in the street did not belong to any method of living that he knew.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading His life, like the lives of most on lonely farms, was divided between crowds and days spent more or less alone.
blurredadjectiveUS /blɜːrd/
indistinct or hazy in outline
From this reading The daily contact with the village and the village thoughts blurred his image of life and obsessed his mind.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading The gossip that kept Marget so busy in the street did not belong to any method of living that he knew.
cleftnounUS /kleft/
a split or indentation in something (as the palate or chin)
From this reading Here there was no sharp cleft between lonely and full hours, between spaces of silence and the bargaining of the mart.
contactnounUS /ˈkɑːntækt/
close interaction
From this reading The daily contact with the village and the village thoughts blurred his image of life and obsessed his mind.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading He always thought of backs when he thought of a crowd, and in thinking of people he generally thought of crowds.
crowdsnounUS /kraʊdz/
plural of “crowd” — a large number of things or people considered together
From this reading He always thought of backs when he thought of a crowd, and in thinking of people he generally thought of crowds.
every day; without missing a day
From this reading The daily contact with the village and the village thoughts blurred his image of life and obsessed his mind.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading His life, like the lives of most on lonely farms, was divided between crowds and days spent more or less alone.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The gossip that kept Marget so busy in the street did not belong to any method of living that he knew.
separated into parts or pieces
From this reading His life, like the lives of most on lonely farms, was divided between crowds and days spent more or less alone.
farmsnounUS /fɑːrmz/
plural of “farm” — workplace consisting of farm buildings and cultivated land as a unit
From this reading His life, like the lives of most on lonely farms, was divided between crowds and days spent more or less alone.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Here there was no sharp cleft between lonely and full hours, between spaces of silence and the bargaining of the mart.
usually; as a rule
From this reading He always thought of backs when he thought of a crowd, and in thinking of people he generally thought of crowds.
gossipnounUS /ˈɡɑːsəp/
light informal conversation for social occasions
From this reading The gossip that kept Marget so busy in the street did not belong to any method of living that he knew.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He always thought of backs when he thought of a crowd, and in thinking of people he generally thought of crowds.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here there was no sharp cleft between lonely and full hours, between spaces of silence and the bargaining of the mart.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His life, like the lives of most on lonely farms, was divided between crowds and days spent more or less alone.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Here there was no sharp cleft between lonely and full hours, between spaces of silence and the bargaining of the mart.
an iconic mental representation
From this reading The daily contact with the village and the village thoughts blurred his image of life and obsessed his mind.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He always thought of backs when he thought of a crowd, and in thinking of people he generally thought of crowds.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The gossip that kept Marget so busy in the street did not belong to any method of living that he knew.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The gossip that kept Marget so busy in the street did not belong to any method of living that he knew.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading His life, like the lives of most on lonely farms, was divided between crowds and days spent more or less alone.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading His life, like the lives of most on lonely farms, was divided between crowds and days spent more or less alone.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading His life, like the lives of most on lonely farms, was divided between crowds and days spent more or less alone.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading His life, like the lives of most on lonely farms, was divided between crowds and days spent more or less alone.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading The gossip that kept Marget so busy in the street did not belong to any method of living that he knew.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading His life, like the lives of most on lonely farms, was divided between crowds and days spent more or less alone.
Marget
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gossip that kept Marget so busy in the street did not belong to any method of living that he knew.
martnounUS /mɑːrt/
an area in a town where a public mercantile establishment is set up
From this reading Here there was no sharp cleft between lonely and full hours, between spaces of silence and the bargaining of the mart.
a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)
From this reading The gossip that kept Marget so busy in the street did not belong to any method of living that he knew.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The daily contact with the village and the village thoughts blurred his image of life and obsessed his mind.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading His life, like the lives of most on lonely farms, was divided between crowds and days spent more or less alone.
used to form the superlative
From this reading His life, like the lives of most on lonely farms, was divided between crowds and days spent more or less alone.
not any; not one
From this reading Here there was no sharp cleft between lonely and full hours, between spaces of silence and the bargaining of the mart.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The gossip that kept Marget so busy in the street did not belong to any method of living that he knew.
obsessedadjectiveUS /əbˈsest/
having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something
From this reading The daily contact with the village and the village thoughts blurred his image of life and obsessed his mind.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He always thought of backs when he thought of a crowd, and in thinking of people he generally thought of crowds.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His life, like the lives of most on lonely farms, was divided between crowds and days spent more or less alone.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading His life, like the lives of most on lonely farms, was divided between crowds and days spent more or less alone.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading He always thought of backs when he thought of a crowd, and in thinking of people he generally thought of crowds.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading Here there was no sharp cleft between lonely and full hours, between spaces of silence and the bargaining of the mart.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Here there was no sharp cleft between lonely and full hours, between spaces of silence and the bargaining of the mart.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The gossip that kept Marget so busy in the street did not belong to any method of living that he knew.
spacesnounUS /ˈspeɪsəz/
plural of “space” — the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Here there was no sharp cleft between lonely and full hours, between spaces of silence and the bargaining of the mart.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading His life, like the lives of most on lonely farms, was divided between crowds and days spent more or less alone.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading The gossip that kept Marget so busy in the street did not belong to any method of living that he knew.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The gossip that kept Marget so busy in the street did not belong to any method of living that he knew.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His life, like the lives of most on lonely farms, was divided between crowds and days spent more or less alone.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Here there was no sharp cleft between lonely and full hours, between spaces of silence and the bargaining of the mart.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading He always thought of backs when he thought of a crowd, and in thinking of people he generally thought of crowds.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He always thought of backs when he thought of a crowd, and in thinking of people he generally thought of crowds.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The daily contact with the village and the village thoughts blurred his image of life and obsessed his mind.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The gossip that kept Marget so busy in the street did not belong to any method of living that he knew.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading The daily contact with the village and the village thoughts blurred his image of life and obsessed his mind.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His life, like the lives of most on lonely farms, was divided between crowds and days spent more or less alone.
at the time that
From this reading He always thought of backs when he thought of a crowd, and in thinking of people he generally thought of crowds.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The daily contact with the village and the village thoughts blurred his image of life and obsessed his mind.
