used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IN TOWN Night, in that maze of alleys, was but a more sinister day.
alleysnounUS /ˈæliz/
plural of “alley” — a narrow street with walls on both sides
From this reading IN TOWN Night, in that maze of alleys, was but a more sinister day.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
bedraggledadjectiveUS /bɪˈdræɡəld/
limp and soiled as if dragged in the mud
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading Under lamps, the shaven foreheads still bent toward microscopic labor.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading The same slant-eyed men, in broken files, went scuffing over filthy stone, like wanderers lost in a tunnel.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading IN TOWN Night, in that maze of alleys, was but a more sinister day.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
cashnounUS /kæʃ/
money in the form of bills or coins
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
chinking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
coolies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
curtainedadjective
furnished or concealed with curtains or draperies
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading IN TOWN Night, in that maze of alleys, was but a more sinister day.
endlessadjectiveUS /ˈendləs/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
enduredverbUS /enˈdjʊrd/
past form of “endure” — put up with something or somebody unpleasant
From this reading The same inexplicable noises endured, the same smells.
fantannoun
a Chinese gambling game; a random number of counters are placed under a bowl and you gamble on how many will be left (0, 1, 2, or 3 modulo 4)
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
filesnounUS /faɪlz/
plural of “file” — a set of related records (either written or electronic) kept together
From this reading The same slant-eyed men, in broken files, went scuffing over filthy stone, like wanderers lost in a tunnel.
filthyadjectiveUS /ˈfɪlθi/
disgustingly dirty; filled or smeared with offensive matter
From this reading The same slant-eyed men, in broken files, went scuffing over filthy stone, like wanderers lost in a tunnel.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
foreheadsnounUS /ˈfɔːrhedz/
plural of “forehead” — the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading Under lamps, the shaven foreheads still bent toward microscopic labor.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
glowedverbUS /ɡloʊd/
past form of “glow” — emit a steady even light without flames
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
goddessnounUS /ˈɡɑːdəs/
a female deity
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
hairsnounUS /herz/
plural of “hair” — a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN TOWN Night, in that maze of alleys, was but a more sinister day.
inexplicableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnəkˈsplɪsəbəl/
incapable of being explained or accounted for
From this reading The same inexplicable noises endured, the same smells.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading Under lamps, the shaven foreheads still bent toward microscopic labor.
lampsnounUS /læmps/
plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading Under lamps, the shaven foreheads still bent toward microscopic labor.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The same slant-eyed men, in broken files, went scuffing over filthy stone, like wanderers lost in a tunnel.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading The same slant-eyed men, in broken files, went scuffing over filthy stone, like wanderers lost in a tunnel.
mazenounUS /meɪz/
complex system of paths or tunnels in which it is easy to get lost
From this reading IN TOWN Night, in that maze of alleys, was but a more sinister day.
the force of workers available
From this reading The same slant-eyed men, in broken files, went scuffing over filthy stone, like wanderers lost in a tunnel.
microscopicadjectiveUS /ˌmaɪkrəˈskɑːpɪk/
of or relating to or used in microscopy
From this reading Under lamps, the shaven foreheads still bent toward microscopic labor.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading IN TOWN Night, in that maze of alleys, was but a more sinister day.
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading IN TOWN Night, in that maze of alleys, was but a more sinister day.
noisesnounUS /ˈnɔɪzɪz/
plural of “noise” — sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading The same inexplicable noises endured, the same smells.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN TOWN Night, in that maze of alleys, was but a more sinister day.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
orangenounUS /ˈɔːrəndʒ/
round yellow to orange fruit of any of several citrus trees
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The same slant-eyed men, in broken files, went scuffing over filthy stone, like wanderers lost in a tunnel.
the state of having little or no money and few or no material possessions
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
Identical; not different.
From this reading The same slant-eyed men, in broken files, went scuffing over filthy stone, like wanderers lost in a tunnel.
scuffing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The same slant-eyed men, in broken files, went scuffing over filthy stone, like wanderers lost in a tunnel.
shavenadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪvən/
having the beard or hair cut off close to the skin
From this reading Under lamps, the shaven foreheads still bent toward microscopic labor.
do one's shopping
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
sinisteradjectiveUS /ˈsɪnɪstər/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading IN TOWN Night, in that maze of alleys, was but a more sinister day.
slant-eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The same slant-eyed men, in broken files, went scuffing over filthy stone, like wanderers lost in a tunnel.
smellsnounUS /smelz/
plural of “smell” — the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading The same inexplicable noises endured, the same smells.
splitverbUS /splɪt/
separate into parts or portions
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
not in physical motion
From this reading Under lamps, the shaven foreheads still bent toward microscopic labor.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The same slant-eyed men, in broken files, went scuffing over filthy stone, like wanderers lost in a tunnel.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading IN TOWN Night, in that maze of alleys, was but a more sinister day.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The same slant-eyed men, in broken files, went scuffing over filthy stone, like wanderers lost in a tunnel.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Under lamps, the shaven foreheads still bent toward microscopic labor.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading IN TOWN Night, in that maze of alleys, was but a more sinister day.
trade-fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
translucencynoun
the quality of allowing light to pass diffusely
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
tunnelverbUS /ˈtʌnəl/
move through by or as by digging
From this reading The same slant-eyed men, in broken files, went scuffing over filthy stone, like wanderers lost in a tunnel.
UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Under lamps, the shaven foreheads still bent toward microscopic labor.
wanderersnounUS /ˈwɑːndərərz/
plural of “wanderer” — someone who leads a wandering unsettled life
From this reading The same slant-eyed men, in broken files, went scuffing over filthy stone, like wanderers lost in a tunnel.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IN TOWN Night, in that maze of alleys, was but a more sinister day.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The same slant-eyed men, in broken files, went scuffing over filthy stone, like wanderers lost in a tunnel.
in or at the place that
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
zeroadjectiveUS /ˈzɪroʊ/
indicating the absence of any or all units under consideration
From this reading The curtained window of a fantan shop still glowed in orange translucency, and from behind it came the murmur and the endless chinking of cash, where Fortune, a bedraggled, trade-fallen goddess, split hairs with coolies for poverty or zero.
