used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Chairs they had none, nor even so much as a broom to clean the floor with.
(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 And with this plank of stone still strong enough to serve, he had scraped all one corner of the office floor free of rubbish.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading EXPLORATION Came now the evening, as they sat and talked together, talked long and earnestly, there within that ruined place.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading EXPLORATION Came now the evening, as they sat and talked together, talked long and earnestly, there within that ruined place.
broomnounUS /bruːm/
a cleaning implement for sweeping; bundle of straws or twigs attached to a long handle
From this reading Chairs they had none, nor even so much as a broom to clean the floor with.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Stern, first-off, had wrenched a marble slab from the stairway.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading EXPLORATION Came now the evening, as they sat and talked together, talked long and earnestly, there within that ruined place.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Chairs they had none, nor even so much as a broom to clean the floor with.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading Chairs they had none, nor even so much as a broom to clean the floor with.
clothingnounUS /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/
a covering designed to be worn on a person's body
From this reading Too eager for some knowledge of the truth, they, to feel hunger or to think of their lack of clothing.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading And with this plank of stone still strong enough to serve, he had scraped all one corner of the office floor free of rubbish.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading Too eager for some knowledge of the truth, they, to feel hunger or to think of their lack of clothing.
in a serious manner
From this reading EXPLORATION Came now the evening, as they sat and talked together, talked long and earnestly, there within that ruined place.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading And with this plank of stone still strong enough to serve, he had scraped all one corner of the office floor free of rubbish.
divisible by two
From this reading Chairs they had none, nor even so much as a broom to clean the floor with.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading EXPLORATION Came now the evening, as they sat and talked together, talked long and earnestly, there within that ruined place.
EXPLORATIONnounUS /ˌeksplərˈeɪʃən/
to travel for the purpose of discovery
From this reading EXPLORATION Came now the evening, as they sat and talked together, talked long and earnestly, there within that ruined place.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading Too eager for some knowledge of the truth, they, to feel hunger or to think of their lack of clothing.
first-off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Stern, first-off, had wrenched a marble slab from the stairway.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Chairs they had none, nor even so much as a broom to clean the floor with.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Too eager for some knowledge of the truth, they, to feel hunger or to think of their lack of clothing.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading And with this plank of stone still strong enough to serve, he had scraped all one corner of the office floor free of rubbish.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But Stern, first-off, had wrenched a marble slab from the stairway.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Chairs they had none, nor even so much as a broom to clean the floor with.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And with this plank of stone still strong enough to serve, he had scraped all one corner of the office floor free of rubbish.
a physiological need for food; the consequence of food deprivation
From this reading Too eager for some knowledge of the truth, they, to feel hunger or to think of their lack of clothing.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading Too eager for some knowledge of the truth, they, to feel hunger or to think of their lack of clothing.
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading Too eager for some knowledge of the truth, they, to feel hunger or to think of their lack of clothing.
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 EXPLORATION Came now the evening, as they sat and talked together, talked long and earnestly, there within that ruined place.
a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
From this reading But Stern, first-off, had wrenched a marble slab from the stairway.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Chairs they had none, nor even so much as a broom to clean the floor with.
not one, and not any
From this reading Chairs they had none, nor even so much as a broom to clean the floor with.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Chairs they had none, nor even so much as a broom to clean the floor with.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading EXPLORATION Came now the evening, as they sat and talked together, talked long and earnestly, there within that ruined place.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Too eager for some knowledge of the truth, they, to feel hunger or to think of their lack of clothing.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading And with this plank of stone still strong enough to serve, he had scraped all one corner of the office floor free of rubbish.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading And with this plank of stone still strong enough to serve, he had scraped all one corner of the office floor free of rubbish.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Too eager for some knowledge of the truth, they, to feel hunger or to think of their lack of clothing.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading EXPLORATION Came now the evening, as they sat and talked together, talked long and earnestly, there within that ruined place.
plankverbUS /plæŋk/
cover with planks
From this reading And with this plank of stone still strong enough to serve, he had scraped all one corner of the office floor free of rubbish.
rubbishnounUS /ˈrʌbɪʃ/
worthless material that is to be disposed of
From this reading And with this plank of stone still strong enough to serve, he had scraped all one corner of the office floor free of rubbish.
destroyed physically or morally
From this reading EXPLORATION Came now the evening, as they sat and talked together, talked long and earnestly, there within that ruined place.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading EXPLORATION Came now the evening, as they sat and talked together, talked long and earnestly, there within that ruined place.
scrapedverbUS /skreɪpt/
past form of “scrape” — scratch repeatedly
From this reading And with this plank of stone still strong enough to serve, he had scraped all one corner of the office floor free of rubbish.
serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading And with this plank of stone still strong enough to serve, he had scraped all one corner of the office floor free of rubbish.
slabnounUS /slæb/
block consisting of a thick piece of something
From this reading But Stern, first-off, had wrenched a marble slab from the stairway.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Chairs they had none, nor even so much as a broom to clean the floor with.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Too eager for some knowledge of the truth, they, to feel hunger or to think of their lack of clothing.
stairwaynounUS /ˈsterweɪ/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading But Stern, first-off, had wrenched a marble slab from the stairway.
SternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading But Stern, first-off, had wrenched a marble slab from the stairway.
not in physical motion
From this reading And with this plank of stone still strong enough to serve, he had scraped all one corner of the office floor free of rubbish.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading And with this plank of stone still strong enough to serve, he had scraped all one corner of the office floor free of rubbish.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading And with this plank of stone still strong enough to serve, he had scraped all one corner of the office floor free of rubbish.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading EXPLORATION Came now the evening, as they sat and talked together, talked long and earnestly, there within that ruined place.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading EXPLORATION Came now the evening, as they sat and talked together, talked long and earnestly, there within that ruined place.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading EXPLORATION Came now the evening, as they sat and talked together, talked long and earnestly, there within that ruined place.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Too eager for some knowledge of the truth, they, to feel hunger or to think of their lack of clothing.
in or at that place or location
From this reading EXPLORATION Came now the evening, as they sat and talked together, talked long and earnestly, there within that ruined place.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading EXPLORATION Came now the evening, as they sat and talked together, talked long and earnestly, there within that ruined place.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Too eager for some knowledge of the truth, they, to feel hunger or to think of their lack of clothing.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And with this plank of stone still strong enough to serve, he had scraped all one corner of the office floor free of rubbish.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Too eager for some knowledge of the truth, they, to feel hunger or to think of their lack of clothing.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading EXPLORATION Came now the evening, as they sat and talked together, talked long and earnestly, there within that ruined place.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Too eager for some knowledge of the truth, they, to feel hunger or to think of their lack of clothing.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading Too eager for some knowledge of the truth, they, to feel hunger or to think of their lack of clothing.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Chairs they had none, nor even so much as a broom to clean the floor with.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading EXPLORATION Came now the evening, as they sat and talked together, talked long and earnestly, there within that ruined place.
wrenchedverbUS /rentʃt/
past form of “wrench” — twist or pull violently or suddenly, especially so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached or from where it originates
From this reading But Stern, first-off, had wrenched a marble slab from the stairway.
