used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This was a sad business.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then the work of clearing the mine and bringing up the bodies commenced.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A number of coffins, equal to that of the men known to be below at the time of the explosion, were in readiness in a shed near the pit mouth.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A number of coffins, equal to that of the men known to be below at the time of the explosion, were in readiness in a shed near the pit mouth.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading A number of coffins, equal to that of the men known to be below at the time of the explosion, were in readiness in a shed near the pit mouth.
plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Then the work of clearing the mine and bringing up the bodies commenced.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading Then the work of clearing the mine and bringing up the bodies commenced.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading This was a sad business.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading Then the work of clearing the mine and bringing up the bodies commenced.
coffinsnounUS /ˈkɔːfɪnz/
plural of “coffin” — box in which a corpse is buried or cremated
From this reading A number of coffins, equal to that of the men known to be below at the time of the explosion, were in readiness in a shed near the pit mouth.
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading A number of coffins, equal to that of the men known to be below at the time of the explosion, were in readiness in a shed near the pit mouth.
explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/
a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading A number of coffins, equal to that of the men known to be below at the time of the explosion, were in readiness in a shed near the pit mouth.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
flowedverbUS /floʊd/
past form of “flow” — move or progress freely as if in a stream
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading A number of coffins, equal to that of the men known to be below at the time of the explosion, were in readiness in a shed near the pit mouth.
MANAGERnounUS /ˈmænədʒər/
someone who controls resources and expenditures
From this reading THE NEW MANAGER.
the force of workers available
From this reading A number of coffins, equal to that of the men known to be below at the time of the explosion, were in readiness in a shed near the pit mouth.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Then the work of clearing the mine and bringing up the bodies commenced.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading A number of coffins, equal to that of the men known to be below at the time of the explosion, were in readiness in a shed near the pit mouth.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading A number of coffins, equal to that of the men known to be below at the time of the explosion, were in readiness in a shed near the pit mouth.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading THE NEW MANAGER.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading A number of coffins, equal to that of the men known to be below at the time of the explosion, were in readiness in a shed near the pit mouth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
pitnounUS /pɪt/
A large hole in the ground, or an abyss of darkness and peril.
From this reading A number of coffins, equal to that of the men known to be below at the time of the explosion, were in readiness in a shed near the pit mouth.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
pumpingverbUS /ˈpʌmpɪŋ/
-ing form of “pump” — operate like a pump; move up and down, like a handle or a pedal
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
readinessnounUS /ˈredinəs/
the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action)
From this reading A number of coffins, equal to that of the men known to be below at the time of the explosion, were in readiness in a shed near the pit mouth.
relieve from
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading This was a sad business.
get rid of
From this reading A number of coffins, equal to that of the men known to be below at the time of the explosion, were in readiness in a shed near the pit mouth.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A number of coffins, equal to that of the men known to be below at the time of the explosion, were in readiness in a shed near the pit mouth.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE NEW MANAGER.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the work of clearing the mine and bringing up the bodies commenced.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was a sad business.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading A number of coffins, equal to that of the men known to be below at the time of the explosion, were in readiness in a shed near the pit mouth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Then the work of clearing the mine and bringing up the bodies commenced.
VaughannounUS /vɔːn/
United States jazz singer noted for her complex bebop phrasing and scat singing (1924-1990)
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was a sad business.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A number of coffins, equal to that of the men known to be below at the time of the explosion, were in readiness in a shed near the pit mouth.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The next day preparations for pumping out the Vaughan commenced; but it took weeks to get rid of the water which had flowed in in five minutes.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Then the work of clearing the mine and bringing up the bodies commenced.
