used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STROKE OF LIGHTNING.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The sun of midsummer beat fiercely upon the long and sloping roofs and against the coal-black sides of the giant building.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Down in the engine-room, where there was no air stirring, and the vapor of steam hung heavily in the atmosphere, the heat was almost insupportable.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Down in the engine-room, where there was no air stirring, and the vapor of steam hung heavily in the atmosphere, the heat was almost insupportable.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sun of midsummer beat fiercely upon the long and sloping roofs and against the coal-black sides of the giant building.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The engineer, clothed lightly as he was, fairly dripped with perspiration.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was a hot day at Burnham Breaker.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading Down in the engine-room, where there was no air stirring, and the vapor of steam hung heavily in the atmosphere, the heat was almost insupportable.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading The sun of midsummer beat fiercely upon the long and sloping roofs and against the coal-black sides of the giant building.
BreakernounUS /ˈbreɪkər/
a quarry worker who splits off blocks of stone
From this reading It was a hot day at Burnham Breaker.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading The sun of midsummer beat fiercely upon the long and sloping roofs and against the coal-black sides of the giant building.
BurnhamnounUS /ˈbɜːrnəm/
United States architect who designed the first important skyscraper with a skeleton (1846-1912)
From this reading It was a hot day at Burnham Breaker.
clothedadjectiveUS /kloʊðd/
wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination
From this reading The engineer, clothed lightly as he was, fairly dripped with perspiration.
coal-blackadjective
of the blackest black; similar to the color of jet or coal
From this reading The sun of midsummer beat fiercely upon the long and sloping roofs and against the coal-black sides of the giant building.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was a hot day at Burnham Breaker.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Down in the engine-room, where there was no air stirring, and the vapor of steam hung heavily in the atmosphere, the heat was almost insupportable.
drippedverbUS /drɪpt/
inflected form of “drip” — fall in drops
From this reading The engineer, clothed lightly as he was, fairly dripped with perspiration.
engine-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down in the engine-room, where there was no air stirring, and the vapor of steam hung heavily in the atmosphere, the heat was almost insupportable.
engineernounUS /ˈendʒəˈnɪr/
a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems
From this reading The engineer, clothed lightly as he was, fairly dripped with perspiration.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading The engineer, clothed lightly as he was, fairly dripped with perspiration.
fiercelyadverbUS /ˈfɪrsli/
in a physically fierce manner
From this reading The sun of midsummer beat fiercely upon the long and sloping roofs and against the coal-black sides of the giant building.
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading The sun of midsummer beat fiercely upon the long and sloping roofs and against the coal-black sides of the giant building.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The engineer, clothed lightly as he was, fairly dripped with perspiration.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading Down in the engine-room, where there was no air stirring, and the vapor of steam hung heavily in the atmosphere, the heat was almost insupportable.
to a considerable degree
From this reading Down in the engine-room, where there was no air stirring, and the vapor of steam hung heavily in the atmosphere, the heat was almost insupportable.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading It was a hot day at Burnham Breaker.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Down in the engine-room, where there was no air stirring, and the vapor of steam hung heavily in the atmosphere, the heat was almost insupportable.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Down in the engine-room, where there was no air stirring, and the vapor of steam hung heavily in the atmosphere, the heat was almost insupportable.
insupportableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnsəˈpɔːrtəbəl/
incapable of being justified or explained
From this reading Down in the engine-room, where there was no air stirring, and the vapor of steam hung heavily in the atmosphere, the heat was almost insupportable.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a hot day at Burnham Breaker.
without good reason
From this reading The engineer, clothed lightly as he was, fairly dripped with perspiration.
abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
From this reading A STROKE OF LIGHTNING.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The sun of midsummer beat fiercely upon the long and sloping roofs and against the coal-black sides of the giant building.
midsummernounUS /ˈmɪdˈsʌmər/
June 21, when the sun is at its northernmost point
From this reading The sun of midsummer beat fiercely upon the long and sloping roofs and against the coal-black sides of the giant building.
not any; not one
From this reading Down in the engine-room, where there was no air stirring, and the vapor of steam hung heavily in the atmosphere, the heat was almost insupportable.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A STROKE OF LIGHTNING.
perspirationnounUS /ˌpɜːrspərˈeɪʃən/
salty fluid secreted by sweat glands
From this reading The engineer, clothed lightly as he was, fairly dripped with perspiration.
roofsnounUS /ruːfs/
plural of “roof” — a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading The sun of midsummer beat fiercely upon the long and sloping roofs and against the coal-black sides of the giant building.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The sun of midsummer beat fiercely upon the long and sloping roofs and against the coal-black sides of the giant building.
slopingadjectiveUS /ˈsloʊpɪŋ/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading The sun of midsummer beat fiercely upon the long and sloping roofs and against the coal-black sides of the giant building.
steamverbUS /stiːm/
travel by means of steam power
From this reading Down in the engine-room, where there was no air stirring, and the vapor of steam hung heavily in the atmosphere, the heat was almost insupportable.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading Down in the engine-room, where there was no air stirring, and the vapor of steam hung heavily in the atmosphere, the heat was almost insupportable.
(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading A STROKE OF LIGHTNING.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun of midsummer beat fiercely upon the long and sloping roofs and against the coal-black sides of the giant building.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sun of midsummer beat fiercely upon the long and sloping roofs and against the coal-black sides of the giant building.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Down in the engine-room, where there was no air stirring, and the vapor of steam hung heavily in the atmosphere, the heat was almost insupportable.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The sun of midsummer beat fiercely upon the long and sloping roofs and against the coal-black sides of the giant building.
vapornounUS /ˈveɪpər/
a visible suspension in the air of particles of some substance
From this reading Down in the engine-room, where there was no air stirring, and the vapor of steam hung heavily in the atmosphere, the heat was almost insupportable.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a hot day at Burnham Breaker.
in or at the place that
From this reading Down in the engine-room, where there was no air stirring, and the vapor of steam hung heavily in the atmosphere, the heat was almost insupportable.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The engineer, clothed lightly as he was, fairly dripped with perspiration.
