1923
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Published October, 1923.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The drays ran over the pavement with muffled sounds; winter had set in with a heavy snow-storm.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Out on the avenue the shop-keepers were barring doors and windows, and shouting "Merry Christmas!" to one another across the street as they hurried to get home.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Set up and electrotyped.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Out on the avenue the shop-keepers were barring doors and windows, and shouting "Merry Christmas!" to one another across the street as they hurried to get home.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
a line of approach
From this reading Out on the avenue the shop-keepers were barring doors and windows, and shouting "Merry Christmas!" to one another across the street as they hurried to get home.
barringnounUS /ˈbɑːrɪŋ/
the act of excluding someone by a negative vote or veto
From this reading Out on the avenue the shop-keepers were barring doors and windows, and shouting "Merry Christmas!" to one another across the street as they hurried to get home.
basementnounUS /ˈbeɪsmənt/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
brainsnounUS /breɪnz/
plural of “brain” — that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Out on the avenue the shop-keepers were barring doors and windows, and shouting "Merry Christmas!" to one another across the street as they hurried to get home.
drays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drays ran over the pavement with muffled sounds; winter had set in with a heavy snow-storm.
electrotyped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Set up and electrotyped.
(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Out on the avenue the shop-keepers were barring doors and windows, and shouting "Merry Christmas!" to one another across the street as they hurried to get home.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The drays ran over the pavement with muffled sounds; winter had set in with a heavy snow-storm.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The drays ran over the pavement with muffled sounds; winter had set in with a heavy snow-storm.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Out on the avenue the shop-keepers were barring doors and windows, and shouting "Merry Christmas!" to one another across the street as they hurried to get home.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading Out on the avenue the shop-keepers were barring doors and windows, and shouting "Merry Christmas!" to one another across the street as they hurried to get home.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
Lodging-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading Out on the avenue the shop-keepers were barring doors and windows, and shouting "Merry Christmas!" to one another across the street as they hurried to get home.
methodicallyadverbUS /məˈθɑːdɪkəli/
in a methodical manner
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
morrow's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
muffledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌfəld/
being or made softer or less loud or clear
From this reading The drays ran over the pavement with muffled sounds; winter had set in with a heavy snow-storm.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
OctobernounUS /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/
the month following September and preceding November
From this reading Published October, 1923.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Out on the avenue the shop-keepers were barring doors and windows, and shouting "Merry Christmas!" to one another across the street as they hurried to get home.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Out on the avenue the shop-keepers were barring doors and windows, and shouting "Merry Christmas!" to one another across the street as they hurried to get home.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The drays ran over the pavement with muffled sounds; winter had set in with a heavy snow-storm.
pavementnounUS /ˈpeɪvmənt/
the paved surface of a thoroughfare
From this reading The drays ran over the pavement with muffled sounds; winter had set in with a heavy snow-storm.
piesnounUS /paɪz/
plural of “pie” — dish baked in pastry-lined pan often with a pastry top
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
prepared and printed for distribution and sale
From this reading Published October, 1923.
rackingadjectiveUS /ˈrækɪŋ/
causing great physical or mental suffering
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The drays ran over the pavement with muffled sounds; winter had set in with a heavy snow-storm.
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Set up and electrotyped.
shop-keepers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out on the avenue the shop-keepers were barring doors and windows, and shouting "Merry Christmas!" to one another across the street as they hurried to get home.
encouragement in the form of cheers from spectators
From this reading Out on the avenue the shop-keepers were barring doors and windows, and shouting "Merry Christmas!" to one another across the street as they hurried to get home.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
sizzlingadjectiveUS /ˈsɪzəlɪŋ/
hot enough to burn with or as if with a hissing sound
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
snow-storm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drays ran over the pavement with muffled sounds; winter had set in with a heavy snow-storm.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The drays ran over the pavement with muffled sounds; winter had set in with a heavy snow-storm.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Out on the avenue the shop-keepers were barring doors and windows, and shouting "Merry Christmas!" to one another across the street as they hurried to get home.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Out on the avenue the shop-keepers were barring doors and windows, and shouting "Merry Christmas!" to one another across the street as they hurried to get home.
tickedverbUS /tɪkt/
past form of “tick” — make a clicking or ticking sound
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
turkeysnounUS /ˈtɜːrkiz/
plural of “turkey” — large gallinaceous bird with fan-shaped tail; widely domesticated for food
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
two-score
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Set up and electrotyped.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Out on the avenue the shop-keepers were barring doors and windows, and shouting "Merry Christmas!" to one another across the street as they hurried to get home.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading The drays ran over the pavement with muffled sounds; winter had set in with a heavy snow-storm.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The clock in the West Side Boys' Lodging-house ticked out the seconds of Christmas eve as slowly and methodically as if six fat turkeys were not sizzling in the basement kitchen against the morrow's spread, and as if two-score boys were not racking their brains to guess what kind of pies would go with them.
