used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading BUTTONS The Lavinskis' flat on the second floor had always possessed a mysterious fascination for Nance.
equally
From this reading But summer and winter alike the Lavinskis herded behind closed doors and ran their everlasting sewing-machines.
(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 All day and far into the night, the sewing-machines ran at high pressure, and Mr. Lavinski shuffled in and out carrying huge piles of pants on his head.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading BUTTONS The Lavinskis' flat on the second floor had always possessed a mysterious fascination for Nance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In and out of the other flats she passed at will, but she had never seen beyond the half-open door of the Lavinskis'.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In and out of the other flats she passed at will, but she had never seen beyond the half-open door of the Lavinskis'.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading But summer and winter alike the Lavinskis herded behind closed doors and ran their everlasting sewing-machines.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading In and out of the other flats she passed at will, but she had never seen beyond the half-open door of the Lavinskis'.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In and out of the other flats she passed at will, but she had never seen beyond the half-open door of the Lavinskis'.
BUTTONSnounUS /ˈbʌtənz/
plural of “button” — a round fastener sewn to shirts and coats etc to fit through buttonholes
From this reading BUTTONS The Lavinskis' flat on the second floor had always possessed a mysterious fascination for Nance.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading All day and far into the night, the sewing-machines ran at high pressure, and Mr. Lavinski shuffled in and out carrying huge piles of pants on his head.
civilities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The other tenants stopped on the stairs to exchange civilities or incivilities with equal warmth; they hung out of windows or dawdled sociably in doorways.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading But summer and winter alike the Lavinskis herded behind closed doors and ran their everlasting sewing-machines.
dawdled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The other tenants stopped on the stairs to exchange civilities or incivilities with equal warmth; they hung out of windows or dawdled sociably in doorways.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading All day and far into the night, the sewing-machines ran at high pressure, and Mr. Lavinski shuffled in and out carrying huge piles of pants on his head.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading In and out of the other flats she passed at will, but she had never seen beyond the half-open door of the Lavinskis'.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading But summer and winter alike the Lavinskis herded behind closed doors and ran their everlasting sewing-machines.
doorwaysnounUS /ˈdɔːrweɪz/
plural of “doorway” — the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading The other tenants stopped on the stairs to exchange civilities or incivilities with equal warmth; they hung out of windows or dawdled sociably in doorways.
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading The other tenants stopped on the stairs to exchange civilities or incivilities with equal warmth; they hung out of windows or dawdled sociably in doorways.
everlastingadjectiveUS /ˌevərˈlæstɪŋ/
continuing forever or indefinitely
From this reading But summer and winter alike the Lavinskis herded behind closed doors and ran their everlasting sewing-machines.
chemical process in which one atom or ion or group changes places with another
From this reading The other tenants stopped on the stairs to exchange civilities or incivilities with equal warmth; they hung out of windows or dawdled sociably in doorways.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading All day and far into the night, the sewing-machines ran at high pressure, and Mr. Lavinski shuffled in and out carrying huge piles of pants on his head.
fascinationnounUS /ˌfæsəˈneɪʃən/
the state of being intensely interested (as by awe or terror)
From this reading BUTTONS The Lavinskis' flat on the second floor had always possessed a mysterious fascination for Nance.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading BUTTONS The Lavinskis' flat on the second floor had always possessed a mysterious fascination for Nance.
flatsnounUS /flæts/
footwear (shoes or slippers) with no heel (or a very low heel)
From this reading In and out of the other flats she passed at will, but she had never seen beyond the half-open door of the Lavinskis'.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading BUTTONS The Lavinskis' flat on the second floor had always possessed a mysterious fascination for Nance.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading BUTTONS The Lavinskis' flat on the second floor had always possessed a mysterious fascination for Nance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading BUTTONS The Lavinskis' flat on the second floor had always possessed a mysterious fascination for Nance.
half-open
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In and out of the other flats she passed at will, but she had never seen beyond the half-open door of the Lavinskis'.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading All day and far into the night, the sewing-machines ran at high pressure, and Mr. Lavinski shuffled in and out carrying huge piles of pants on his head.
herdedverbUS /ˈhɜːrdɪd/
past form of “herd” — cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading But summer and winter alike the Lavinskis herded behind closed doors and ran their everlasting sewing-machines.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading All day and far into the night, the sewing-machines ran at high pressure, and Mr. Lavinski shuffled in and out carrying huge piles of pants on his head.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading All day and far into the night, the sewing-machines ran at high pressure, and Mr. Lavinski shuffled in and out carrying huge piles of pants on his head.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading All day and far into the night, the sewing-machines ran at high pressure, and Mr. Lavinski shuffled in and out carrying huge piles of pants on his head.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading The other tenants stopped on the stairs to exchange civilities or incivilities with equal warmth; they hung out of windows or dawdled sociably in doorways.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In and out of the other flats she passed at will, but she had never seen beyond the half-open door of the Lavinskis'.
incivilities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The other tenants stopped on the stairs to exchange civilities or incivilities with equal warmth; they hung out of windows or dawdled sociably in doorways.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading All day and far into the night, the sewing-machines ran at high pressure, and Mr. Lavinski shuffled in and out carrying huge piles of pants on his head.
Lavinski
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All day and far into the night, the sewing-machines ran at high pressure, and Mr. Lavinski shuffled in and out carrying huge piles of pants on his head.
Lavinskis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BUTTONS The Lavinskis' flat on the second floor had always possessed a mysterious fascination for Nance.
a form of address for a man
From this reading All day and far into the night, the sewing-machines ran at high pressure, and Mr. Lavinski shuffled in and out carrying huge piles of pants on his head.
of an obscure nature
From this reading BUTTONS The Lavinskis' flat on the second floor had always possessed a mysterious fascination for Nance.
NancenounUS /næns/
offensive term for a homosexual man
From this reading BUTTONS The Lavinskis' flat on the second floor had always possessed a mysterious fascination for Nance.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading In and out of the other flats she passed at will, but she had never seen beyond the half-open door of the Lavinskis'.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading All day and far into the night, the sewing-machines ran at high pressure, and Mr. Lavinski shuffled in and out carrying huge piles of pants on his head.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In and out of the other flats she passed at will, but she had never seen beyond the half-open door of the Lavinskis'.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading BUTTONS The Lavinskis' flat on the second floor had always possessed a mysterious fascination for Nance.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The other tenants stopped on the stairs to exchange civilities or incivilities with equal warmth; they hung out of windows or dawdled sociably in doorways.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading In and out of the other flats she passed at will, but she had never seen beyond the half-open door of the Lavinskis'.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In and out of the other flats she passed at will, but she had never seen beyond the half-open door of the Lavinskis'.
pantsnounUS /pænts/
(used in the plural) underpants worn by women
From this reading All day and far into the night, the sewing-machines ran at high pressure, and Mr. Lavinski shuffled in and out carrying huge piles of pants on his head.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading In and out of the other flats she passed at will, but she had never seen beyond the half-open door of the Lavinskis'.
pilesnounUS /paɪlz/
venous swelling external or internal to the anal sphincter
From this reading All day and far into the night, the sewing-machines ran at high pressure, and Mr. Lavinski shuffled in and out carrying huge piles of pants on his head.
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading BUTTONS The Lavinskis' flat on the second floor had always possessed a mysterious fascination for Nance.
pressurenounUS /ˈpreʃər/
the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)
From this reading All day and far into the night, the sewing-machines ran at high pressure, and Mr. Lavinski shuffled in and out carrying huge piles of pants on his head.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading All day and far into the night, the sewing-machines ran at high pressure, and Mr. Lavinski shuffled in and out carrying huge piles of pants on his head.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading BUTTONS The Lavinskis' flat on the second floor had always possessed a mysterious fascination for Nance.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading In and out of the other flats she passed at will, but she had never seen beyond the half-open door of the Lavinskis'.
sewing-machines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All day and far into the night, the sewing-machines ran at high pressure, and Mr. Lavinski shuffled in and out carrying huge piles of pants on his head.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In and out of the other flats she passed at will, but she had never seen beyond the half-open door of the Lavinskis'.
shuffledverbUS /ˈʃʌfəld/
past form of “shuffle” — walk by dragging one's feet
From this reading All day and far into the night, the sewing-machines ran at high pressure, and Mr. Lavinski shuffled in and out carrying huge piles of pants on his head.
sociablyadverb
in a gregarious manner
From this reading The other tenants stopped on the stairs to exchange civilities or incivilities with equal warmth; they hung out of windows or dawdled sociably in doorways.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading The other tenants stopped on the stairs to exchange civilities or incivilities with equal warmth; they hung out of windows or dawdled sociably in doorways.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading The other tenants stopped on the stairs to exchange civilities or incivilities with equal warmth; they hung out of windows or dawdled sociably in doorways.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading But summer and winter alike the Lavinskis herded behind closed doors and ran their everlasting sewing-machines.
tenantsnounUS /ˈtenənts/
plural of “tenant” — someone who pays rent to use land or a building or a car that is owned by someone else
From this reading The other tenants stopped on the stairs to exchange civilities or incivilities with equal warmth; they hung out of windows or dawdled sociably in doorways.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BUTTONS The Lavinskis' flat on the second floor had always possessed a mysterious fascination for Nance.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But summer and winter alike the Lavinskis herded behind closed doors and ran their everlasting sewing-machines.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The other tenants stopped on the stairs to exchange civilities or incivilities with equal warmth; they hung out of windows or dawdled sociably in doorways.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The other tenants stopped on the stairs to exchange civilities or incivilities with equal warmth; they hung out of windows or dawdled sociably in doorways.
the sensation caused by heat energy
From this reading The other tenants stopped on the stairs to exchange civilities or incivilities with equal warmth; they hung out of windows or dawdled sociably in doorways.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading In and out of the other flats she passed at will, but she had never seen beyond the half-open door of the Lavinskis'.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The other tenants stopped on the stairs to exchange civilities or incivilities with equal warmth; they hung out of windows or dawdled sociably in doorways.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading But summer and winter alike the Lavinskis herded behind closed doors and ran their everlasting sewing-machines.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The other tenants stopped on the stairs to exchange civilities or incivilities with equal warmth; they hung out of windows or dawdled sociably in doorways.
