used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was an afternoon of late March, grim and forbidding, as if winter had thrown a last shadow across oncoming spring.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Naomi came out of the stage entrance, fur coat hugged about her, and shivering a bit, made for the curb to hail a taxi.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading It was an afternoon of late March, grim and forbidding, as if winter had thrown a last shadow across oncoming spring.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading It was an afternoon of late March, grim and forbidding, as if winter had thrown a last shadow across oncoming spring.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an afternoon of late March, grim and forbidding, as if winter had thrown a last shadow across oncoming spring.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was an afternoon of late March, grim and forbidding, as if winter had thrown a last shadow across oncoming spring.
ant-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she glanced up and down the street at the ant-like army of cars, one of them slid toward her and a man stepped down.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading As she glanced up and down the street at the ant-like army of cars, one of them slid toward her and a man stepped down.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was an afternoon of late March, grim and forbidding, as if winter had thrown a last shadow across oncoming spring.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As she glanced up and down the street at the ant-like army of cars, one of them slid toward her and a man stepped down.
balmyadjectiveUS /ˈbɑːmi/
informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
From this reading The steam heat, turned off in the chorus dressing-rooms during a week of balmy weather, suddenly sputtered on and sang through the whole matinée performance.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading Naomi came out of the stage entrance, fur coat hugged about her, and shivering a bit, made for the curb to hail a taxi.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Naomi came out of the stage entrance, fur coat hugged about her, and shivering a bit, made for the curb to hail a taxi.
carsnounUS /kɑːrz/
plural of “car” — a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading As she glanced up and down the street at the ant-like army of cars, one of them slid toward her and a man stepped down.
chorusnounUS /ˈkɔːrəs/
any utterance produced simultaneously by a group
From this reading The steam heat, turned off in the chorus dressing-rooms during a week of balmy weather, suddenly sputtered on and sang through the whole matinée performance.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading Naomi came out of the stage entrance, fur coat hugged about her, and shivering a bit, made for the curb to hail a taxi.
curbnounUS /kɜːrb/
an edge between a sidewalk and a roadway consisting of a line of curbstones (usually forming part of a gutter)
From this reading Naomi came out of the stage entrance, fur coat hugged about her, and shivering a bit, made for the curb to hail a taxi.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading As she glanced up and down the street at the ant-like army of cars, one of them slid toward her and a man stepped down.
dressing-rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The steam heat, turned off in the chorus dressing-rooms during a week of balmy weather, suddenly sputtered on and sang through the whole matinée performance.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The steam heat, turned off in the chorus dressing-rooms during a week of balmy weather, suddenly sputtered on and sang through the whole matinée performance.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading Naomi came out of the stage entrance, fur coat hugged about her, and shivering a bit, made for the curb to hail a taxi.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Naomi came out of the stage entrance, fur coat hugged about her, and shivering a bit, made for the curb to hail a taxi.
forbiddingadjectiveUS /fərˈbɪdɪŋ/
harshly uninviting or formidable in manner or appearance
From this reading It was an afternoon of late March, grim and forbidding, as if winter had thrown a last shadow across oncoming spring.
the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
From this reading Naomi came out of the stage entrance, fur coat hugged about her, and shivering a bit, made for the curb to hail a taxi.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading As she glanced up and down the street at the ant-like army of cars, one of them slid toward her and a man stepped down.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading It was an afternoon of late March, grim and forbidding, as if winter had thrown a last shadow across oncoming spring.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was an afternoon of late March, grim and forbidding, as if winter had thrown a last shadow across oncoming spring.
hailverbUS /heɪl/
praise vociferously
From this reading Naomi came out of the stage entrance, fur coat hugged about her, and shivering a bit, made for the curb to hail a taxi.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading “Why, hello, Marshy,”—she reached out a hand—“haven’t seen you in weeks.”
haven't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, hello, Marshy,”—she reached out a hand—“haven’t seen you in weeks.”
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading The steam heat, turned off in the chorus dressing-rooms during a week of balmy weather, suddenly sputtered on and sang through the whole matinée performance.
hellonounUS /həˈloʊ/
an expression of greeting
From this reading “Why, hello, Marshy,”—she reached out a hand—“haven’t seen you in weeks.”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Naomi came out of the stage entrance, fur coat hugged about her, and shivering a bit, made for the curb to hail a taxi.
huggedverbUS /hʌɡd/
inflected form of “hug” — hold (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness
From this reading Naomi came out of the stage entrance, fur coat hugged about her, and shivering a bit, made for the curb to hail a taxi.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It was an afternoon of late March, grim and forbidding, as if winter had thrown a last shadow across oncoming spring.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The steam heat, turned off in the chorus dressing-rooms during a week of balmy weather, suddenly sputtered on and sang through the whole matinée performance.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an afternoon of late March, grim and forbidding, as if winter had thrown a last shadow across oncoming spring.
immediately past
From this reading It was an afternoon of late March, grim and forbidding, as if winter had thrown a last shadow across oncoming spring.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading It was an afternoon of late March, grim and forbidding, as if winter had thrown a last shadow across oncoming spring.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Naomi came out of the stage entrance, fur coat hugged about her, and shivering a bit, made for the curb to hail a taxi.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading As she glanced up and down the street at the ant-like army of cars, one of them slid toward her and a man stepped down.
march in a procession
From this reading It was an afternoon of late March, grim and forbidding, as if winter had thrown a last shadow across oncoming spring.
MarshyadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːrʃi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading “Why, hello, Marshy,”—she reached out a hand—“haven’t seen you in weeks.”
matinée
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The steam heat, turned off in the chorus dressing-rooms during a week of balmy weather, suddenly sputtered on and sang through the whole matinée performance.
NaominounUS /neɪˈoʊmi/
the mother-in-law of Ruth whose story is told in the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament
From this reading Naomi came out of the stage entrance, fur coat hugged about her, and shivering a bit, made for the curb to hail a taxi.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was an afternoon of late March, grim and forbidding, as if winter had thrown a last shadow across oncoming spring.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The steam heat, turned off in the chorus dressing-rooms during a week of balmy weather, suddenly sputtered on and sang through the whole matinée performance.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The steam heat, turned off in the chorus dressing-rooms during a week of balmy weather, suddenly sputtered on and sang through the whole matinée performance.
oncomingadjectiveUS /ˈɔːnkʌmɪŋ/
moving toward one
From this reading It was an afternoon of late March, grim and forbidding, as if winter had thrown a last shadow across oncoming spring.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading As she glanced up and down the street at the ant-like army of cars, one of them slid toward her and a man stepped down.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Naomi came out of the stage entrance, fur coat hugged about her, and shivering a bit, made for the curb to hail a taxi.
performancenounUS /pərˈfɔːrməns/
a dramatic or musical entertainment
From this reading The steam heat, turned off in the chorus dressing-rooms during a week of balmy weather, suddenly sputtered on and sang through the whole matinée performance.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading “Why, hello, Marshy,”—she reached out a hand—“haven’t seen you in weeks.”
North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng
From this reading The steam heat, turned off in the chorus dressing-rooms during a week of balmy weather, suddenly sputtered on and sang through the whole matinée performance.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “Why, hello, Marshy,”—she reached out a hand—“haven’t seen you in weeks.”
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading It was an afternoon of late March, grim and forbidding, as if winter had thrown a last shadow across oncoming spring.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As she glanced up and down the street at the ant-like army of cars, one of them slid toward her and a man stepped down.
shiveringnounUS /ˈʃɪvərɪŋ/
a sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever
From this reading Naomi came out of the stage entrance, fur coat hugged about her, and shivering a bit, made for the curb to hail a taxi.
slidverbUS /slɪd/
inflected form of “slide” — move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading As she glanced up and down the street at the ant-like army of cars, one of them slid toward her and a man stepped down.
the season of growth
From this reading It was an afternoon of late March, grim and forbidding, as if winter had thrown a last shadow across oncoming spring.
sputteredverbUS /ˈspʌtərd/
past form of “sputter” — make an explosive sound
From this reading The steam heat, turned off in the chorus dressing-rooms during a week of balmy weather, suddenly sputtered on and sang through the whole matinée performance.
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading Naomi came out of the stage entrance, fur coat hugged about her, and shivering a bit, made for the curb to hail a taxi.
steamverbUS /stiːm/
travel by means of steam power
From this reading The steam heat, turned off in the chorus dressing-rooms during a week of balmy weather, suddenly sputtered on and sang through the whole matinée performance.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading As she glanced up and down the street at the ant-like army of cars, one of them slid toward her and a man stepped down.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading As she glanced up and down the street at the ant-like army of cars, one of them slid toward her and a man stepped down.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading The steam heat, turned off in the chorus dressing-rooms during a week of balmy weather, suddenly sputtered on and sang through the whole matinée performance.
taxiverbUS /ˈtæksi/
travel slowly
From this reading Naomi came out of the stage entrance, fur coat hugged about her, and shivering a bit, made for the curb to hail a taxi.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The steam heat, turned off in the chorus dressing-rooms during a week of balmy weather, suddenly sputtered on and sang through the whole matinée performance.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading As she glanced up and down the street at the ant-like army of cars, one of them slid toward her and a man stepped down.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The steam heat, turned off in the chorus dressing-rooms during a week of balmy weather, suddenly sputtered on and sang through the whole matinée performance.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading It was an afternoon of late March, grim and forbidding, as if winter had thrown a last shadow across oncoming spring.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Naomi came out of the stage entrance, fur coat hugged about her, and shivering a bit, made for the curb to hail a taxi.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading As she glanced up and down the street at the ant-like army of cars, one of them slid toward her and a man stepped down.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The steam heat, turned off in the chorus dressing-rooms during a week of balmy weather, suddenly sputtered on and sang through the whole matinée performance.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading As she glanced up and down the street at the ant-like army of cars, one of them slid toward her and a man stepped down.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was an afternoon of late March, grim and forbidding, as if winter had thrown a last shadow across oncoming spring.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading The steam heat, turned off in the chorus dressing-rooms during a week of balmy weather, suddenly sputtered on and sang through the whole matinée performance.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading The steam heat, turned off in the chorus dressing-rooms during a week of balmy weather, suddenly sputtered on and sang through the whole matinée performance.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading “Why, hello, Marshy,”—she reached out a hand—“haven’t seen you in weeks.”
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The steam heat, turned off in the chorus dressing-rooms during a week of balmy weather, suddenly sputtered on and sang through the whole matinée performance.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “Why, hello, Marshy,”—she reached out a hand—“haven’t seen you in weeks.”
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading It was an afternoon of late March, grim and forbidding, as if winter had thrown a last shadow across oncoming spring.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Why, hello, Marshy,”—she reached out a hand—“haven’t seen you in weeks.”
