used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Through the swinging door into the steaming kitchen Hiram saw a huge black woman waddling about the range, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Through the swinging door into the steaming kitchen Hiram saw a huge black woman waddling about the range, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading The early boarders--“early birds” Crackit always termed them--had not yet sat down to the long table in the dingy dining-room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Indeed, the supper gong had not been pounded by Sister, and some of the young men were grouped impatiently in the half-lighted parlor.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Chloe only appeared when a catastrophe happened at the boarding-house--and a catastrophe meant the removal of Mrs. Atterson from her usual orbit.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Chloe only appeared when a catastrophe happened at the boarding-house--and a catastrophe meant the removal of Mrs. Atterson from her usual orbit.
Atterson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Chloe only appeared when a catastrophe happened at the boarding-house--and a catastrophe meant the removal of Mrs. Atterson from her usual orbit.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Indeed, the supper gong had not been pounded by Sister, and some of the young men were grouped impatiently in the half-lighted parlor.
beratingnounUS /bɪˈreɪtɪŋ/
a severe rebuke
From this reading Through the swinging door into the steaming kitchen Hiram saw a huge black woman waddling about the range, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The early boarders--“early birds” Crackit always termed them--had not yet sat down to the long table in the dingy dining-room.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Through the swinging door into the steaming kitchen Hiram saw a huge black woman waddling about the range, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster.
boardersnounUS /ˈbɔːrdərz/
plural of “boarder” — a tenant in someone's house
From this reading The early boarders--“early birds” Crackit always termed them--had not yet sat down to the long table in the dingy dining-room.
boardingnounUS /ˈbɔːrdɪŋ/
the act of passengers and crew getting aboard a ship or aircraft
From this reading By chance that evening Hiram got home to his boarding house in good season.
boarding-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Chloe only appeared when a catastrophe happened at the boarding-house--and a catastrophe meant the removal of Mrs. Atterson from her usual orbit.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By chance that evening Hiram got home to his boarding house in good season.
catastrophenounUS /kəˈtæstrəfi/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading Chloe only appeared when a catastrophe happened at the boarding-house--and a catastrophe meant the removal of Mrs. Atterson from her usual orbit.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading By chance that evening Hiram got home to his boarding house in good season.
Chloe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Chloe only appeared when a catastrophe happened at the boarding-house--and a catastrophe meant the removal of Mrs. Atterson from her usual orbit.
Crackit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The early boarders--“early birds” Crackit always termed them--had not yet sat down to the long table in the dingy dining-room.
dingyadjectiveUS /ˈdɪndʒi/
thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
From this reading The early boarders--“early birds” Crackit always termed them--had not yet sat down to the long table in the dingy dining-room.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading The early boarders--“early birds” Crackit always termed them--had not yet sat down to the long table in the dingy dining-room.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Through the swinging door into the steaming kitchen Hiram saw a huge black woman waddling about the range, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The early boarders--“early birds” Crackit always termed them--had not yet sat down to the long table in the dingy dining-room.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading The early boarders--“early birds” Crackit always termed them--had not yet sat down to the long table in the dingy dining-room.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading By chance that evening Hiram got home to his boarding house in good season.
fasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/
more quickly
From this reading Through the swinging door into the steaming kitchen Hiram saw a huge black woman waddling about the range, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Through the swinging door into the steaming kitchen Hiram saw a huge black woman waddling about the range, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Chloe only appeared when a catastrophe happened at the boarding-house--and a catastrophe meant the removal of Mrs. Atterson from her usual orbit.
gongnounUS /ɡɔːŋ/
a percussion instrument consisting of a metal plate that is struck with a softheaded drumstick
From this reading Indeed, the supper gong had not been pounded by Sister, and some of the young men were grouped impatiently in the half-lighted parlor.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading By chance that evening Hiram got home to his boarding house in good season.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading By chance that evening Hiram got home to his boarding house in good season.
groupedadjectiveUS /ɡruːpt/
arranged into groups
From this reading Indeed, the supper gong had not been pounded by Sister, and some of the young men were grouped impatiently in the half-lighted parlor.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The early boarders--“early birds” Crackit always termed them--had not yet sat down to the long table in the dingy dining-room.
half-lighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, the supper gong had not been pounded by Sister, and some of the young men were grouped impatiently in the half-lighted parlor.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Chloe only appeared when a catastrophe happened at the boarding-house--and a catastrophe meant the removal of Mrs. Atterson from her usual orbit.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Through the swinging door into the steaming kitchen Hiram saw a huge black woman waddling about the range, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Through the swinging door into the steaming kitchen Hiram saw a huge black woman waddling about the range, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster.
Hiram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By chance that evening Hiram got home to his boarding house in good season.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading By chance that evening Hiram got home to his boarding house in good season.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading By chance that evening Hiram got home to his boarding house in good season.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading By chance that evening Hiram got home to his boarding house in good season.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Through the swinging door into the steaming kitchen Hiram saw a huge black woman waddling about the range, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster.
huskyadjectiveUS /ˈhʌski/
muscular and heavily built
From this reading Through the swinging door into the steaming kitchen Hiram saw a huge black woman waddling about the range, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster.
impatientlyadverbUS /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəntli/
with impatience; in an impatient manner
From this reading Indeed, the supper gong had not been pounded by Sister, and some of the young men were grouped impatiently in the half-lighted parlor.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading By chance that evening Hiram got home to his boarding house in good season.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed, the supper gong had not been pounded by Sister, and some of the young men were grouped impatiently in the half-lighted parlor.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Through the swinging door into the steaming kitchen Hiram saw a huge black woman waddling about the range, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading Through the swinging door into the steaming kitchen Hiram saw a huge black woman waddling about the range, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster.
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 The early boarders--“early birds” Crackit always termed them--had not yet sat down to the long table in the dingy dining-room.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Chloe only appeared when a catastrophe happened at the boarding-house--and a catastrophe meant the removal of Mrs. Atterson from her usual orbit.
the force of workers available
From this reading Indeed, the supper gong had not been pounded by Sister, and some of the young men were grouped impatiently in the half-lighted parlor.
in motion
From this reading Through the swinging door into the steaming kitchen Hiram saw a huge black woman waddling about the range, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Chloe only appeared when a catastrophe happened at the boarding-house--and a catastrophe meant the removal of Mrs. Atterson from her usual orbit.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The early boarders--“early birds” Crackit always termed them--had not yet sat down to the long table in the dingy dining-room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Indeed, the supper gong had not been pounded by Sister, and some of the young men were grouped impatiently in the half-lighted parlor.
and nothing more
From this reading Chloe only appeared when a catastrophe happened at the boarding-house--and a catastrophe meant the removal of Mrs. Atterson from her usual orbit.
orbitnounUS /ˈɔːrbət/
the (usually elliptical) path described by one celestial body in its revolution about another
From this reading Chloe only appeared when a catastrophe happened at the boarding-house--and a catastrophe meant the removal of Mrs. Atterson from her usual orbit.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading Indeed, the supper gong had not been pounded by Sister, and some of the young men were grouped impatiently in the half-lighted parlor.
poundedverbUS /ˈpaʊndɪd/
past form of “pound” — hit hard with the hand, fist, or some heavy instrument
From this reading Indeed, the supper gong had not been pounded by Sister, and some of the young men were grouped impatiently in the half-lighted parlor.
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading Through the swinging door into the steaming kitchen Hiram saw a huge black woman waddling about the range, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster.
removalnounUS /rɪˈmuːvəl/
the act of removing
From this reading Chloe only appeared when a catastrophe happened at the boarding-house--and a catastrophe meant the removal of Mrs. Atterson from her usual orbit.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The early boarders--“early birds” Crackit always termed them--had not yet sat down to the long table in the dingy dining-room.
cut with a saw
From this reading Through the swinging door into the steaming kitchen Hiram saw a huge black woman waddling about the range, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading By chance that evening Hiram got home to his boarding house in good season.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Indeed, the supper gong had not been pounded by Sister, and some of the young men were grouped impatiently in the half-lighted parlor.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Indeed, the supper gong had not been pounded by Sister, and some of the young men were grouped impatiently in the half-lighted parlor.
steamingadjectiveUS /ˈstiːmɪŋ/
filled with steam or emitting moisture in the form of vapor or mist
From this reading Through the swinging door into the steaming kitchen Hiram saw a huge black woman waddling about the range, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading Indeed, the supper gong had not been pounded by Sister, and some of the young men were grouped impatiently in the half-lighted parlor.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading Through the swinging door into the steaming kitchen Hiram saw a huge black woman waddling about the range, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The early boarders--“early birds” Crackit always termed them--had not yet sat down to the long table in the dingy dining-room.
termedverbUS /tɜːrmd/
past form of “term” — name formally or designate with a term
From this reading The early boarders--“early birds” Crackit always termed them--had not yet sat down to the long table in the dingy dining-room.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading By chance that evening Hiram got home to his boarding house in good season.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The early boarders--“early birds” Crackit always termed them--had not yet sat down to the long table in the dingy dining-room.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The early boarders--“early birds” Crackit always termed them--had not yet sat down to the long table in the dingy dining-room.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the swinging door into the steaming kitchen Hiram saw a huge black woman waddling about the range, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading By chance that evening Hiram got home to his boarding house in good season.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Chloe only appeared when a catastrophe happened at the boarding-house--and a catastrophe meant the removal of Mrs. Atterson from her usual orbit.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Through the swinging door into the steaming kitchen Hiram saw a huge black woman waddling about the range, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster.
waddling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the swinging door into the steaming kitchen Hiram saw a huge black woman waddling about the range, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Indeed, the supper gong had not been pounded by Sister, and some of the young men were grouped impatiently in the half-lighted parlor.
at the time that
From this reading Chloe only appeared when a catastrophe happened at the boarding-house--and a catastrophe meant the removal of Mrs. Atterson from her usual orbit.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Through the swinging door into the steaming kitchen Hiram saw a huge black woman waddling about the range, and heard her husky voice berating Sister for not moving faster.
but in spite of that
From this reading The early boarders--“early birds” Crackit always termed them--had not yet sat down to the long table in the dingy dining-room.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Indeed, the supper gong had not been pounded by Sister, and some of the young men were grouped impatiently in the half-lighted parlor.
