used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The eyes of the big Yale man met those of his chum, and there was an instant understanding between them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
barrelsnounUS /ˈbærəlz/
the amount that many barrels might hold
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
a long seat for more than one person
From this reading They placed him on a bench, and the light of their coal-oil lamps showed him something that caused him to start and groan.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The eyes of the big Yale man met those of his chum, and there was an instant understanding between them.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The eyes of the big Yale man met those of his chum, and there was an instant understanding between them.
bottlesnounUS /ˈbɑːtəlz/
plural of “bottle” — a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
confined by bonds
From this reading Bruce Browning was there, standing in the center of the cellar, bound securely to a stone pillar, a gag in his mouth.
BrowningnounUS /ˈbraʊnɪŋ/
United States inventor of firearms (especially automatic pistols and repeating rifles and a machine gun called the Peacemaker) (1855-1926)
From this reading Bruce Browning was there, standing in the center of the cellar, bound securely to a stone pillar, a gag in his mouth.
BrucenounUS /bruːs/
Australian physician and bacteriologist who described the bacterium that causes undulant fever or brucellosis (1855-1931)
From this reading Bruce Browning was there, standing in the center of the cellar, bound securely to a stone pillar, a gag in his mouth.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading They placed him on a bench, and the light of their coal-oil lamps showed him something that caused him to start and groan.
cellarnounUS /ˈselər/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading Bruce Browning was there, standing in the center of the cellar, bound securely to a stone pillar, a gag in his mouth.
chumnounUS /tʃʌm/
a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading The eyes of the big Yale man met those of his chum, and there was an instant understanding between them.
coal-oil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They placed him on a bench, and the light of their coal-oil lamps showed him something that caused him to start and groan.
cobwebsnounUS /ˈkɑːbwebz/
plural of “cobweb” — a fabric so delicate and transparent as to resemble a web of a spider
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
remove the dust from
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The eyes of the big Yale man met those of his chum, and there was an instant understanding between them.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
gagverbUS /ɡæɡ/
prevent from speaking out
From this reading Bruce Browning was there, standing in the center of the cellar, bound securely to a stone pillar, a gag in his mouth.
groannounUS /ɡroʊn/
an utterance expressing pain or disapproval
From this reading They placed him on a bench, and the light of their coal-oil lamps showed him something that caused him to start and groan.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They placed him on a bench, and the light of their coal-oil lamps showed him something that caused him to start and groan.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Bruce Browning was there, standing in the center of the cellar, bound securely to a stone pillar, a gag in his mouth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE WINE-CELLAR.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading The eyes of the big Yale man met those of his chum, and there was an instant understanding between them.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
lampsnounUS /læmps/
plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading They placed him on a bench, and the light of their coal-oil lamps showed him something that caused him to start and groan.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading They placed him on a bench, and the light of their coal-oil lamps showed him something that caused him to start and groan.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The eyes of the big Yale man met those of his chum, and there was an instant understanding between them.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading The eyes of the big Yale man met those of his chum, and there was an instant understanding between them.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading Bruce Browning was there, standing in the center of the cellar, bound securely to a stone pillar, a gag in his mouth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They placed him on a bench, and the light of their coal-oil lamps showed him something that caused him to start and groan.
pillarnounUS /ˈpɪlər/
a fundamental principle or practice
From this reading Bruce Browning was there, standing in the center of the cellar, bound securely to a stone pillar, a gag in his mouth.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading They placed him on a bench, and the light of their coal-oil lamps showed him something that caused him to start and groan.
securelyadverbUS /sɪˈkjʊrli/
in a secure manner; in a manner free from danger
From this reading Bruce Browning was there, standing in the center of the cellar, bound securely to a stone pillar, a gag in his mouth.
the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
shelvesnounUS /ʃelvz/
Plural of shelf; the vast wooden or stone structures holding archives.
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading They placed him on a bench, and the light of their coal-oil lamps showed him something that caused him to start and groan.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading They placed him on a bench, and the light of their coal-oil lamps showed him something that caused him to start and groan.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
having a supporting base
From this reading Bruce Browning was there, standing in the center of the cellar, bound securely to a stone pillar, a gag in his mouth.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading They placed him on a bench, and the light of their coal-oil lamps showed him something that caused him to start and groan.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Bruce Browning was there, standing in the center of the cellar, bound securely to a stone pillar, a gag in his mouth.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They placed him on a bench, and the light of their coal-oil lamps showed him something that caused him to start and groan.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE WINE-CELLAR.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They placed him on a bench, and the light of their coal-oil lamps showed him something that caused him to start and groan.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The eyes of the big Yale man met those of his chum, and there was an instant understanding between them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They placed him on a bench, and the light of their coal-oil lamps showed him something that caused him to start and groan.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The eyes of the big Yale man met those of his chum, and there was an instant understanding between them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They placed him on a bench, and the light of their coal-oil lamps showed him something that caused him to start and groan.
the cognitive condition of someone who understands
From this reading The eyes of the big Yale man met those of his chum, and there was an instant understanding between them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
in or at the place that
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
wine-casks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
WINE-CELLAR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE WINE-CELLAR.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Frank was carried down a shaking flight of stairs into a cellar, where there were barrels and wine-casks and long shelves of bottles, covered with dust and cobwebs.
YalenounUS /jeɪl/
a university in Connecticut
From this reading The eyes of the big Yale man met those of his chum, and there was an instant understanding between them.
