used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A man sitting on the ground was restlessly taking up one piece after another, and laying them down again, muttering to himself, without noticing us.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading And, after all, when they hung me up I gave in, and kissed the cross made by their swords; and they knocked me about after that.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A man sitting on the ground was restlessly taking up one piece after another, and laying them down again, muttering to himself, without noticing us.
anew
From this reading A man sitting on the ground was restlessly taking up one piece after another, and laying them down again, muttering to himself, without noticing us.
(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 And, after all, when they hung me up I gave in, and kissed the cross made by their swords; and they knocked me about after that.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "MY NATIVE LAND, GOOD-NIGHT" The room we entered was destitute of furniture and blackened with smoke.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading A man sitting on the ground was restlessly taking up one piece after another, and laying them down again, muttering to himself, without noticing us.
blackenedadjectiveUS /ˈblækənd/
darkened by smoke
From this reading "MY NATIVE LAND, GOOD-NIGHT" The room we entered was destitute of furniture and blackened with smoke.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Heaps of broken fragments impeded our entrance and lay on the floor.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading And, after all, when they hung me up I gave in, and kissed the cross made by their swords; and they knocked me about after that.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading "I know not why they should have done so," he said hurriedly; "the poor chairs and tables could not hurt.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "I know not why they should have done so," he said hurriedly; "the poor chairs and tables could not hurt.
travel across or pass over
From this reading And, after all, when they hung me up I gave in, and kissed the cross made by their swords; and they knocked me about after that.
destituteadjectiveUS /ˈdestətuːt/
poor enough to need help from others
From this reading "MY NATIVE LAND, GOOD-NIGHT" The room we entered was destitute of furniture and blackened with smoke.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading "I know not why they should have done so," he said hurriedly; "the poor chairs and tables could not hurt.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A man sitting on the ground was restlessly taking up one piece after another, and laying them down again, muttering to himself, without noticing us.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading "MY NATIVE LAND, GOOD-NIGHT" The room we entered was destitute of furniture and blackened with smoke.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading Heaps of broken fragments impeded our entrance and lay on the floor.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Heaps of broken fragments impeded our entrance and lay on the floor.
fragmentsnounUS /ˈfræɡmənts/
plural of “fragment” — a piece broken off or cut off of something else
From this reading Heaps of broken fragments impeded our entrance and lay on the floor.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading "MY NATIVE LAND, GOOD-NIGHT" The room we entered was destitute of furniture and blackened with smoke.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading And, after all, when they hung me up I gave in, and kissed the cross made by their swords; and they knocked me about after that.
GOOD-NIGHT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "MY NATIVE LAND, GOOD-NIGHT" The room we entered was destitute of furniture and blackened with smoke.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading A man sitting on the ground was restlessly taking up one piece after another, and laying them down again, muttering to himself, without noticing us.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I know not why they should have done so," he said hurriedly; "the poor chairs and tables could not hurt.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I know not why they should have done so," he said hurriedly; "the poor chairs and tables could not hurt.
HeapsnounUS /hiːps/
a large number or amount
From this reading Heaps of broken fragments impeded our entrance and lay on the floor.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading A man sitting on the ground was restlessly taking up one piece after another, and laying them down again, muttering to himself, without noticing us.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading And, after all, when they hung me up I gave in, and kissed the cross made by their swords; and they knocked me about after that.
hurriedlyadverbUS /ˈhɜːridli/
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading "I know not why they should have done so," he said hurriedly; "the poor chairs and tables could not hurt.
be the source of pain
From this reading "I know not why they should have done so," he said hurriedly; "the poor chairs and tables could not hurt.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I know not why they should have done so," he said hurriedly; "the poor chairs and tables could not hurt.
impededadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpiːdɪd/
made difficult or slow
From this reading Heaps of broken fragments impeded our entrance and lay on the floor.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And, after all, when they hung me up I gave in, and kissed the cross made by their swords; and they knocked me about after that.
past form of “kiss” — touch with the lips or press the lips (against someone's mouth or other body part) as an expression of love, greeting, etc.
From this reading And, after all, when they hung me up I gave in, and kissed the cross made by their swords; and they knocked me about after that.
past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading And, after all, when they hung me up I gave in, and kissed the cross made by their swords; and they knocked me about after that.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "I know not why they should have done so," he said hurriedly; "the poor chairs and tables could not hurt.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading "MY NATIVE LAND, GOOD-NIGHT" The room we entered was destitute of furniture and blackened with smoke.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Heaps of broken fragments impeded our entrance and lay on the floor.
the production of eggs (especially in birds)
From this reading A man sitting on the ground was restlessly taking up one piece after another, and laying them down again, muttering to himself, without noticing us.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading And, after all, when they hung me up I gave in, and kissed the cross made by their swords; and they knocked me about after that.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A man sitting on the ground was restlessly taking up one piece after another, and laying them down again, muttering to himself, without noticing us.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And, after all, when they hung me up I gave in, and kissed the cross made by their swords; and they knocked me about after that.
mutteringnounUS /ˈmʌtərɪŋ/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading A man sitting on the ground was restlessly taking up one piece after another, and laying them down again, muttering to himself, without noticing us.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "MY NATIVE LAND, GOOD-NIGHT" The room we entered was destitute of furniture and blackened with smoke.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading "MY NATIVE LAND, GOOD-NIGHT" The room we entered was destitute of furniture and blackened with smoke.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "I know not why they should have done so," he said hurriedly; "the poor chairs and tables could not hurt.
noticingverbUS /ˈnoʊtɪsɪŋ/
-ing form of “notice” — discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading A man sitting on the ground was restlessly taking up one piece after another, and laying them down again, muttering to himself, without noticing us.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "MY NATIVE LAND, GOOD-NIGHT" The room we entered was destitute of furniture and blackened with smoke.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Heaps of broken fragments impeded our entrance and lay on the floor.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A man sitting on the ground was restlessly taking up one piece after another, and laying them down again, muttering to himself, without noticing us.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Heaps of broken fragments impeded our entrance and lay on the floor.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading A man sitting on the ground was restlessly taking up one piece after another, and laying them down again, muttering to himself, without noticing us.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading "I know not why they should have done so," he said hurriedly; "the poor chairs and tables could not hurt.
restlesslyadverbUS /ˈrestləsli/
in a restless manner
From this reading A man sitting on the ground was restlessly taking up one piece after another, and laying them down again, muttering to himself, without noticing us.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading "MY NATIVE LAND, GOOD-NIGHT" The room we entered was destitute of furniture and blackened with smoke.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I know not why they should have done so," he said hurriedly; "the poor chairs and tables could not hurt.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "I know not why they should have done so," he said hurriedly; "the poor chairs and tables could not hurt.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading A man sitting on the ground was restlessly taking up one piece after another, and laying them down again, muttering to himself, without noticing us.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading "MY NATIVE LAND, GOOD-NIGHT" The room we entered was destitute of furniture and blackened with smoke.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "I know not why they should have done so," he said hurriedly; "the poor chairs and tables could not hurt.
swordsnounUS /sɔːrdz/
plural of “sword” — a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
From this reading And, after all, when they hung me up I gave in, and kissed the cross made by their swords; and they knocked me about after that.
tablesnounUS /ˈteɪbəlz/
plural of “table” — a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading "I know not why they should have done so," he said hurriedly; "the poor chairs and tables could not hurt.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading A man sitting on the ground was restlessly taking up one piece after another, and laying them down again, muttering to himself, without noticing us.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And, after all, when they hung me up I gave in, and kissed the cross made by their swords; and they knocked me about after that.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "MY NATIVE LAND, GOOD-NIGHT" The room we entered was destitute of furniture and blackened with smoke.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading And, after all, when they hung me up I gave in, and kissed the cross made by their swords; and they knocked me about after that.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A man sitting on the ground was restlessly taking up one piece after another, and laying them down again, muttering to himself, without noticing us.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I know not why they should have done so," he said hurriedly; "the poor chairs and tables could not hurt.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A man sitting on the ground was restlessly taking up one piece after another, and laying them down again, muttering to himself, without noticing us.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A man sitting on the ground was restlessly taking up one piece after another, and laying them down again, muttering to himself, without noticing us.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A man sitting on the ground was restlessly taking up one piece after another, and laying them down again, muttering to himself, without noticing us.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "MY NATIVE LAND, GOOD-NIGHT" The room we entered was destitute of furniture and blackened with smoke.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "MY NATIVE LAND, GOOD-NIGHT" The room we entered was destitute of furniture and blackened with smoke.
at the time that
From this reading And, after all, when they hung me up I gave in, and kissed the cross made by their swords; and they knocked me about after that.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "I know not why they should have done so," he said hurriedly; "the poor chairs and tables could not hurt.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "MY NATIVE LAND, GOOD-NIGHT" The room we entered was destitute of furniture and blackened with smoke.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading A man sitting on the ground was restlessly taking up one piece after another, and laying them down again, muttering to himself, without noticing us.
