used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading GOOD-NIGHT IN THE FO’CASTLE The silence was broken a little later by merry voices on the stairway.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Now May Nell caught him by the hand and pulled him across the hall.
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading Billy knew “things were doing” there by the sounds; the tap, tap of the tack hammer, added to much chatter and rustling.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Billy knew “things were doing” there by the sounds; the tap, tap of the tack hammer, added to much chatter and rustling.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A strange pungent fragrance like burning spice, yet not familiar, met them at the door.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For several nights the girls had been gathering in May Nell’s room.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading Billy knew “things were doing” there by the sounds; the tap, tap of the tack hammer, added to much chatter and rustling.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading GOOD-NIGHT IN THE FO’CASTLE The silence was broken a little later by merry voices on the stairway.
the act of burning something
From this reading A strange pungent fragrance like burning spice, yet not familiar, met them at the door.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading GOOD-NIGHT IN THE FO’CASTLE The silence was broken a little later by merry voices on the stairway.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Now May Nell caught him by the hand and pulled him across the hall.
chatterverbUS /ˈtʃætər/
click repeatedly or uncontrollably
From this reading Billy knew “things were doing” there by the sounds; the tap, tap of the tack hammer, added to much chatter and rustling.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading Billy knew “things were doing” there by the sounds; the tap, tap of the tack hammer, added to much chatter and rustling.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A strange pungent fragrance like burning spice, yet not familiar, met them at the door.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading A strange pungent fragrance like burning spice, yet not familiar, met them at the door.
FO'CASTLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GOOD-NIGHT IN THE FO’CASTLE The silence was broken a little later by merry voices on the stairway.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For several nights the girls had been gathering in May Nell’s room.
fragrancenounUS /ˈfreɪɡrəns/
a distinctive odor that is pleasant
From this reading A strange pungent fragrance like burning spice, yet not familiar, met them at the door.
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading For several nights the girls had been gathering in May Nell’s room.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading For several nights the girls had been gathering in May Nell’s room.
GOOD-NIGHT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GOOD-NIGHT IN THE FO’CASTLE The silence was broken a little later by merry voices on the stairway.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For several nights the girls had been gathering in May Nell’s room.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Now May Nell caught him by the hand and pulled him across the hall.
hammernounUS /ˈhæmər/
the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled
From this reading Billy knew “things were doing” there by the sounds; the tap, tap of the tack hammer, added to much chatter and rustling.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Now May Nell caught him by the hand and pulled him across the hall.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Now May Nell caught him by the hand and pulled him across the hall.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading GOOD-NIGHT IN THE FO’CASTLE The silence was broken a little later by merry voices on the stairway.
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 Billy knew “things were doing” there by the sounds; the tap, tap of the tack hammer, added to much chatter and rustling.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading GOOD-NIGHT IN THE FO’CASTLE The silence was broken a little later by merry voices on the stairway.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A strange pungent fragrance like burning spice, yet not familiar, met them at the door.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading GOOD-NIGHT IN THE FO’CASTLE The silence was broken a little later by merry voices on the stairway.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading For several nights the girls had been gathering in May Nell’s room.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading GOOD-NIGHT IN THE FO’CASTLE The silence was broken a little later by merry voices on the stairway.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading A strange pungent fragrance like burning spice, yet not familiar, met them at the door.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Billy knew “things were doing” there by the sounds; the tap, tap of the tack hammer, added to much chatter and rustling.
Nell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now May Nell caught him by the hand and pulled him across the hall.
Nell's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For several nights the girls had been gathering in May Nell’s room.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading For several nights the girls had been gathering in May Nell’s room.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A strange pungent fragrance like burning spice, yet not familiar, met them at the door.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now May Nell caught him by the hand and pulled him across the hall.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Billy knew “things were doing” there by the sounds; the tap, tap of the tack hammer, added to much chatter and rustling.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading GOOD-NIGHT IN THE FO’CASTLE The silence was broken a little later by merry voices on the stairway.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading Now May Nell caught him by the hand and pulled him across the hall.
pungentadjectiveUS /ˈpʌndʒənt/
strong and sharp
From this reading A strange pungent fragrance like burning spice, yet not familiar, met them at the door.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading For several nights the girls had been gathering in May Nell’s room.
rustlingnounUS /ˈrʌslɪŋ/
the stealing of cattle
From this reading Billy knew “things were doing” there by the sounds; the tap, tap of the tack hammer, added to much chatter and rustling.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading For several nights the girls had been gathering in May Nell’s room.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading GOOD-NIGHT IN THE FO’CASTLE The silence was broken a little later by merry voices on the stairway.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Billy knew “things were doing” there by the sounds; the tap, tap of the tack hammer, added to much chatter and rustling.
spicenounUS /spaɪs/
aromatic substances of vegetable origin used as a preservative
From this reading A strange pungent fragrance like burning spice, yet not familiar, met them at the door.
stairwaynounUS /ˈsterweɪ/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading GOOD-NIGHT IN THE FO’CASTLE The silence was broken a little later by merry voices on the stairway.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading A strange pungent fragrance like burning spice, yet not familiar, met them at the door.
tackverbUS /tæk/
fasten with tacks
From this reading Billy knew “things were doing” there by the sounds; the tap, tap of the tack hammer, added to much chatter and rustling.
tapverbUS /tæp/
cut a female screw thread with a tap
From this reading Billy knew “things were doing” there by the sounds; the tap, tap of the tack hammer, added to much chatter and rustling.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading GOOD-NIGHT IN THE FO’CASTLE The silence was broken a little later by merry voices on the stairway.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A strange pungent fragrance like burning spice, yet not familiar, met them at the door.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Billy knew “things were doing” there by the sounds; the tap, tap of the tack hammer, added to much chatter and rustling.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Billy knew “things were doing” there by the sounds; the tap, tap of the tack hammer, added to much chatter and rustling.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Billy knew “things were doing” there by the sounds; the tap, tap of the tack hammer, added to much chatter and rustling.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading GOOD-NIGHT IN THE FO’CASTLE The silence was broken a little later by merry voices on the stairway.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading GOOD-NIGHT IN THE FO’CASTLE The silence was broken a little later by merry voices on the stairway.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Billy knew “things were doing” there by the sounds; the tap, tap of the tack hammer, added to much chatter and rustling.
but in spite of that
From this reading A strange pungent fragrance like burning spice, yet not familiar, met them at the door.
