used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Plaster, furniture, rafters and men poured down in a mass.
alcovenounUS /ˈælkoʊv/
a small recess opening off a larger room
From this reading THE DUG-OUT Jacques immediately sprang back to his former position in the alcove beside the machine-gun.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The hand-grenade exploded and the ceiling which already was greatly weakened speedily collapsed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The hand-grenade exploded and the ceiling which already was greatly weakened speedily collapsed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The force of the explosion had literally torn the ceiling to pieces and, the supports gone, it collapsed at once.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading THE DUG-OUT Jacques immediately sprang back to his former position in the alcove beside the machine-gun.
next to; at the side of
From this reading THE DUG-OUT Jacques immediately sprang back to his former position in the alcove beside the machine-gun.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading The hand-grenade exploded and the ceiling which already was greatly weakened speedily collapsed.
collapsedverbUS /kəˈlæpst/
past form of “collapse” — break down, literally or metaphorically
From this reading The hand-grenade exploded and the ceiling which already was greatly weakened speedily collapsed.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Lucky it was for him that he did so.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Plaster, furniture, rafters and men poured down in a mass.
DUG-OUT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DUG-OUT Jacques immediately sprang back to his former position in the alcove beside the machine-gun.
explodedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsploʊdəd/
showing the parts of something separated but in positions that show their correct relation to one another
From this reading The hand-grenade exploded and the ceiling which already was greatly weakened speedily collapsed.
explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/
a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading The force of the explosion had literally torn the ceiling to pieces and, the supports gone, it collapsed at once.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Lucky it was for him that he did so.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading The force of the explosion had literally torn the ceiling to pieces and, the supports gone, it collapsed at once.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading THE DUG-OUT Jacques immediately sprang back to his former position in the alcove beside the machine-gun.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading Plaster, furniture, rafters and men poured down in a mass.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The force of the explosion had literally torn the ceiling to pieces and, the supports gone, it collapsed at once.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading The hand-grenade exploded and the ceiling which already was greatly weakened speedily collapsed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The force of the explosion had literally torn the ceiling to pieces and, the supports gone, it collapsed at once.
hand-grenade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hand-grenade exploded and the ceiling which already was greatly weakened speedily collapsed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Lucky it was for him that he did so.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Lucky it was for him that he did so.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE DUG-OUT Jacques immediately sprang back to his former position in the alcove beside the machine-gun.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading THE DUG-OUT Jacques immediately sprang back to his former position in the alcove beside the machine-gun.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE DUG-OUT Jacques immediately sprang back to his former position in the alcove beside the machine-gun.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Lucky it was for him that he did so.
Jacques
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DUG-OUT Jacques immediately sprang back to his former position in the alcove beside the machine-gun.
literallyadverbUS /ˈlɪtərəli/
in a literal sense
From this reading The force of the explosion had literally torn the ceiling to pieces and, the supports gone, it collapsed at once.
occurring by chance
From this reading Lucky it was for him that he did so.
machine-gun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DUG-OUT Jacques immediately sprang back to his former position in the alcove beside the machine-gun.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading Plaster, furniture, rafters and men poured down in a mass.
the force of workers available
From this reading Plaster, furniture, rafters and men poured down in a mass.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The force of the explosion had literally torn the ceiling to pieces and, the supports gone, it collapsed at once.
on one occasion
From this reading The force of the explosion had literally torn the ceiling to pieces and, the supports gone, it collapsed at once.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading The force of the explosion had literally torn the ceiling to pieces and, the supports gone, it collapsed at once.
PlasterverbUS /ˈplæstər/
apply a heavy coat to
From this reading Plaster, furniture, rafters and men poured down in a mass.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading THE DUG-OUT Jacques immediately sprang back to his former position in the alcove beside the machine-gun.
past form of “pour” — cause to run
From this reading Plaster, furniture, rafters and men poured down in a mass.
raftersnounUS /ˈræftərz/
plural of “rafter” — one of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof
From this reading Plaster, furniture, rafters and men poured down in a mass.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Lucky it was for him that he did so.
speedilyadverbUS /ˈspiːdəli/
with speed
From this reading The hand-grenade exploded and the ceiling which already was greatly weakened speedily collapsed.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading THE DUG-OUT Jacques immediately sprang back to his former position in the alcove beside the machine-gun.
supportsnounUS /səˈpɔːrts/
plural of “support” — the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities
From this reading The force of the explosion had literally torn the ceiling to pieces and, the supports gone, it collapsed at once.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Lucky it was for him that he did so.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DUG-OUT Jacques immediately sprang back to his former position in the alcove beside the machine-gun.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE DUG-OUT Jacques immediately sprang back to his former position in the alcove beside the machine-gun.
having edges that are jagged from injury
From this reading The force of the explosion had literally torn the ceiling to pieces and, the supports gone, it collapsed at once.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lucky it was for him that he did so.
weakenedadjectiveUS /ˈwiːkənd/
impaired by diminution
From this reading The hand-grenade exploded and the ceiling which already was greatly weakened speedily collapsed.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The hand-grenade exploded and the ceiling which already was greatly weakened speedily collapsed.
