used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Six months later they had become archaeologists, and their house was like a museum.
(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 The staircase was encumbered with the geological specimens, and an enormous chain was stretched on the ground all along the corridor.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The staircase was encumbered with the geological specimens, and an enormous chain was stretched on the ground all along the corridor.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In the vestibule stood an old wooden beam.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Six months later they had become archaeologists, and their house was like a museum.
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
archaeologistsnounUS /ˌɑːrkiˈɑːlədʒɪsts/
plural of “archaeologist” — an anthropologist who studies prehistoric people and their culture
From this reading Six months later they had become archaeologists, and their house was like a museum.
ARCHAEOLOGYnounUS /ˌɑːrkiˈɑːlədʒi/
the branch of anthropology that studies prehistoric people and their cultures
From this reading RESEARCHES IN ARCHAEOLOGY.
beamnounUS /biːm/
a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
From this reading In the vestibule stood an old wooden beam.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Six months later they had become archaeologists, and their house was like a museum.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
the two together, not just one
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading The staircase was encumbered with the geological specimens, and an enormous chain was stretched on the ground all along the corridor.
condemnedverbUS /kənˈdemd/
past form of “condemn” — express strong disapproval of
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
convertverbUS /ˈkɑːnvərt/
change from one system to another or to a new plan or policy
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading The staircase was encumbered with the geological specimens, and an enormous chain was stretched on the ground all along the corridor.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
encumberedadjectiveUS /enˈkʌmbərd/
loaded to excess or impeded by a heavy load
From this reading The staircase was encumbered with the geological specimens, and an enormous chain was stretched on the ground all along the corridor.
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading The staircase was encumbered with the geological specimens, and an enormous chain was stretched on the ground all along the corridor.
geologicaladjectiveUS /ˌdʒiːəˈlɑːdʒɪkəl/
of or relating to or based on geology
From this reading The staircase was encumbered with the geological specimens, and an enormous chain was stretched on the ground all along the corridor.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The staircase was encumbered with the geological specimens, and an enormous chain was stretched on the ground all along the corridor.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Six months later they had become archaeologists, and their house was like a museum.
hingesnounUS /ˈhɪndʒɪz/
plural of “hinge” — a joint that holds two parts together so that one can swing relative to the other
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Six months later they had become archaeologists, and their house was like a museum.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading RESEARCHES IN ARCHAEOLOGY.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Six months later they had become archaeologists, and their house was like a museum.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Six months later they had become archaeologists, and their house was like a museum.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Six months later they had become archaeologists, and their house was like a museum.
museumnounUS /mjuːˈziːəm/
a depository for collecting and displaying objects having scientific or historical or artistic value
From this reading Six months later they had become archaeologists, and their house was like a museum.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading In the vestibule stood an old wooden beam.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The staircase was encumbered with the geological specimens, and an enormous chain was stretched on the ground all along the corridor.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
RESEARCHESnounUS /riˈsɜːrtʃɪz/
plural of “research” — systematic investigation to establish facts
From this reading RESEARCHES IN ARCHAEOLOGY.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading Six months later they had become archaeologists, and their house was like a museum.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
specimensnounUS /ˈspesəmənz/
plural of “specimen” — an example regarded as typical of its class
From this reading The staircase was encumbered with the geological specimens, and an enormous chain was stretched on the ground all along the corridor.
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading The staircase was encumbered with the geological specimens, and an enormous chain was stretched on the ground all along the corridor.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading In the vestibule stood an old wooden beam.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading The staircase was encumbered with the geological specimens, and an enormous chain was stretched on the ground all along the corridor.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the vestibule stood an old wooden beam.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Six months later they had become archaeologists, and their house was like a museum.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Six months later they had become archaeologists, and their house was like a museum.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
vestibulenounUS /ˈvestɪbjuːl/
a large entrance or reception room or area
From this reading In the vestibule stood an old wooden beam.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Six months later they had become archaeologists, and their house was like a museum.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They had taken off its hinges the door between the two rooms in which they did not sleep, and had condemned the outer door of the second in order to convert both into a single apartment.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The staircase was encumbered with the geological specimens, and an enormous chain was stretched on the ground all along the corridor.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading In the vestibule stood an old wooden beam.
