used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
Alf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
(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 It had been raining just this way all day and half of last night, and to all appearances it intended to continue raining in the same manner for another twenty-four hours.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading It had been raining just this way all day and half of last night, and to all appearances it intended to continue raining in the same manner for another twenty-four hours.
appearancesnounUS /əˈpɪrənsəz/
plural of “appearance” — outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading It had been raining just this way all day and half of last night, and to all appearances it intended to continue raining in the same manner for another twenty-four hours.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Through the blurred panes his gaze traversed the Yard, empty and bedraggled, to the back of Merle Hall and the gymnasium.
bedraggledadjectiveUS /bɪˈdræɡəld/
limp and soiled as if dragged in the mud
From this reading Through the blurred panes his gaze traversed the Yard, empty and bedraggled, to the back of Merle Hall and the gymnasium.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been raining just this way all day and half of last night, and to all appearances it intended to continue raining in the same manner for another twenty-four hours.
next to; at the side of
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
blurredadjectiveUS /blɜːrd/
indistinct or hazy in outline
From this reading Through the blurred panes his gaze traversed the Yard, empty and bedraggled, to the back of Merle Hall and the gymnasium.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
cheerlessadjective
causing sad feelings of gloom and inadequacy
From this reading It was a cheerless outlook.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading It had been raining just this way all day and half of last night, and to all appearances it intended to continue raining in the same manner for another twenty-four hours.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It had been raining just this way all day and half of last night, and to all appearances it intended to continue raining in the same manner for another twenty-four hours.
discontentedlyadverbUS /ˌdɪskənˈtentɪdli/
with discontent; in a discontented manner
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading Through the blurred panes his gaze traversed the Yard, empty and bedraggled, to the back of Merle Hall and the gymnasium.
to or in any or all places
From this reading Everywhere was rotting snow or pools of water, while from a low, leaden sky the rain fell straight and persistently.
face-down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Everywhere was rotting snow or pools of water, while from a low, leaden sky the rain fell straight and persistently.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It had been raining just this way all day and half of last night, and to all appearances it intended to continue raining in the same manner for another twenty-four hours.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Everywhere was rotting snow or pools of water, while from a low, leaden sky the rain fell straight and persistently.
a long fixed look
From this reading Through the blurred panes his gaze traversed the Yard, empty and bedraggled, to the back of Merle Hall and the gymnasium.
gymnasiumnounUS /dʒɪmˈneɪziəm/
a school for students intermediate between elementary school and college; usually grades 9 to 12
From this reading Through the blurred panes his gaze traversed the Yard, empty and bedraggled, to the back of Merle Hall and the gymnasium.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had been raining just this way all day and half of last night, and to all appearances it intended to continue raining in the same manner for another twenty-four hours.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading It had been raining just this way all day and half of last night, and to all appearances it intended to continue raining in the same manner for another twenty-four hours.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Through the blurred panes his gaze traversed the Yard, empty and bedraggled, to the back of Merle Hall and the gymnasium.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading It had been raining just this way all day and half of last night, and to all appearances it intended to continue raining in the same manner for another twenty-four hours.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading It had been raining just this way all day and half of last night, and to all appearances it intended to continue raining in the same manner for another twenty-four hours.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
and nothing more
From this reading It had been raining just this way all day and half of last night, and to all appearances it intended to continue raining in the same manner for another twenty-four hours.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
immediately past
From this reading It had been raining just this way all day and half of last night, and to all appearances it intended to continue raining in the same manner for another twenty-four hours.
the production of eggs (especially in birds)
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
leadenadjectiveUS /ˈledən/
darkened with overcast
From this reading Everywhere was rotting snow or pools of water, while from a low, leaden sky the rain fell straight and persistently.
Loring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Everywhere was rotting snow or pools of water, while from a low, leaden sky the rain fell straight and persistently.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It had been raining just this way all day and half of last night, and to all appearances it intended to continue raining in the same manner for another twenty-four hours.
MerlenounUS /mɜːrl/
common black European thrush
From this reading Through the blurred panes his gaze traversed the Yard, empty and bedraggled, to the back of Merle Hall and the gymnasium.
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading It had been raining just this way all day and half of last night, and to all appearances it intended to continue raining in the same manner for another twenty-four hours.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Everywhere was rotting snow or pools of water, while from a low, leaden sky the rain fell straight and persistently.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
outlooknounUS /ˈaʊtlʊk/
a habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how you will interpret and respond to situations
From this reading It was a cheerless outlook.
panesnounUS /peɪnz/
plural of “pane” — sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors
From this reading Through the blurred panes his gaze traversed the Yard, empty and bedraggled, to the back of Merle Hall and the gymnasium.
persistentlyadverbUS /pərˈsɪstəntli/
in a persistent manner
From this reading Everywhere was rotting snow or pools of water, while from a low, leaden sky the rain fell straight and persistently.
poolsnounUS /puːlz/
plural of “pool” — an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading Everywhere was rotting snow or pools of water, while from a low, leaden sky the rain fell straight and persistently.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading Everywhere was rotting snow or pools of water, while from a low, leaden sky the rain fell straight and persistently.
rainingadjectiveUS /ˈreɪnɪŋ/
falling in drops or as if falling like rain
From this reading It had been raining just this way all day and half of last night, and to all appearances it intended to continue raining in the same manner for another twenty-four hours.
rainsnounUS /reɪnz/
plural of “rain” — water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
RAINYadjectiveUS /ˈreɪni/
(of weather) wet by periods of rain
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
rottingnounUS /ˈrɑːtɪŋ/
(biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action
From this reading Everywhere was rotting snow or pools of water, while from a low, leaden sky the rain fell straight and persistently.
Identical; not different.
From this reading It had been raining just this way all day and half of last night, and to all appearances it intended to continue raining in the same manner for another twenty-four hours.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
SaturdaysnounUS /ˈsætərdiz/
plural of “saturday” — the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Everywhere was rotting snow or pools of water, while from a low, leaden sky the rain fell straight and persistently.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading Everywhere was rotting snow or pools of water, while from a low, leaden sky the rain fell straight and persistently.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Everywhere was rotting snow or pools of water, while from a low, leaden sky the rain fell straight and persistently.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It had been raining just this way all day and half of last night, and to all appearances it intended to continue raining in the same manner for another twenty-four hours.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the blurred panes his gaze traversed the Yard, empty and bedraggled, to the back of Merle Hall and the gymnasium.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Through the blurred panes his gaze traversed the Yard, empty and bedraggled, to the back of Merle Hall and the gymnasium.
traversedverbUS /ˈtrævərst/
past form of “traverse” — travel across or pass over
From this reading Through the blurred panes his gaze traversed the Yard, empty and bedraggled, to the back of Merle Hall and the gymnasium.
twenty-fouradjectiveUS /ˈtwentifɔːr/
being four more than twenty
From this reading It had been raining just this way all day and half of last night, and to all appearances it intended to continue raining in the same manner for another twenty-four hours.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a cheerless outlook.
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 Everywhere was rotting snow or pools of water, while from a low, leaden sky the rain fell straight and persistently.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It had been raining just this way all day and half of last night, and to all appearances it intended to continue raining in the same manner for another twenty-four hours.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Everywhere was rotting snow or pools of water, while from a low, leaden sky the rain fell straight and persistently.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
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 A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading A RAINY SATURDAY “Wonder why it always rains on Saturdays?” muttered Alf Loring, laying his book face-down in his lap and staring discontentedly out of the window beside him.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Through the blurred panes his gaze traversed the Yard, empty and bedraggled, to the back of Merle Hall and the gymnasium.
