used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He waked up late next day after a broken sleep.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was a tiny cupboard of a room about six paces in length.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He waked up late next day after a broken sleep.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
averageadjectiveUS /ˈævərɪdʒ/
approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
biliousadjectiveUS /ˈbɪliəs/
relating to or containing bile
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading He waked up late next day after a broken sleep.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
cupboardnounUS /ˈkʌbərd/
a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space
From this reading It was a tiny cupboard of a room about six paces in length.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He waked up late next day after a broken sleep.
remove the dust from
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
move gently or carefully
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
hatrednounUS /ˈheɪtrəd/
the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He waked up late next day after a broken sleep.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
ill-temperedadjective
annoyed and irritable
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a tiny cupboard of a room about six paces in length.
irritableadjectiveUS /ˈɪrətəbəl/
easily irritated or annoyed
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a tiny cupboard of a room about six paces in length.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
conformity or harmony
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading He waked up late next day after a broken sleep.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading It was a tiny cupboard of a room about six paces in length.
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 furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
low-pitchedadjective
used of sounds and voices; low in pitch or frequency
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
manuscriptsnounUS /ˈmænjəskrɪpts/
plural of “manuscript” — the form of a literary work submitted for publication
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
a particular point in time
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading He waked up late next day after a broken sleep.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a tiny cupboard of a room about six paces in length.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
pacesnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪz/
plural of “pace” — the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading It was a tiny cupboard of a room about six paces in length.
coated with paint
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
peelingnounUS /ˈpiːlɪŋ/
loss of bits of outer skin by peeling or shedding or coming off in scales
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
poverty-strickenadjective
poor enough to need help from others
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
on the contrary
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
refreshedadjectiveUS /riˈfreʃt/
with restored energy
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
ricketyadjectiveUS /ˈrɪkəti/
inclined to shake as from weakness or defect
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading It was a tiny cupboard of a room about six paces in length.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading He waked up late next day after a broken sleep.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
very small
From this reading It was a tiny cupboard of a room about six paces in length.
untouchedadjectiveUS /ənˈtʌtʃt/
still full
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He waked up late next day after a broken sleep.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
waked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He waked up late next day after a broken sleep.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a tiny cupboard of a room about six paces in length.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
