used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The rumble of heavy wagons, and a cloud of dust where they were being shoved into place by the busy elephants.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading TOO MANY PEOPLE Hundreds of men toiling and sweating over stiff canvas and stiffer ropes.
appetizingadjectiveUS /ˈæpɪtaɪzɪŋ/
appealing to or stimulating the appetite especially in appearance or aroma
From this reading On one edge of the big, vacant lot were wisps of smoke from the fires in the stove wagons, and from these same wagons came appetizing odors.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The rumble of heavy wagons, and a cloud of dust where they were being shoved into place by the busy elephants.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The thud of big wooden sledge hammers driving in the tent stakes.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading The rumble of heavy wagons, and a cloud of dust where they were being shoved into place by the busy elephants.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The rumble of heavy wagons, and a cloud of dust where they were being shoved into place by the busy elephants.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading On one edge of the big, vacant lot were wisps of smoke from the fires in the stove wagons, and from these same wagons came appetizing odors.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading TOO MANY PEOPLE Hundreds of men toiling and sweating over stiff canvas and stiffer ropes.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Here and there men and women darted, carrying portions of their costumes in their hands.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading The rumble of heavy wagons, and a cloud of dust where they were being shoved into place by the busy elephants.
costumesnounUS /kɑːˈstuːmz/
plural of “costume” — the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball
From this reading Here and there men and women darted, carrying portions of their costumes in their hands.
dartedverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪd/
past form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading Here and there men and women darted, carrying portions of their costumes in their hands.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading The thud of big wooden sledge hammers driving in the tent stakes.
remove the dust from
From this reading The rumble of heavy wagons, and a cloud of dust where they were being shoved into place by the busy elephants.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading On one edge of the big, vacant lot were wisps of smoke from the fires in the stove wagons, and from these same wagons came appetizing odors.
elephantsnounUS /ˈeləfənts/
plural of “elephant” — five-toed pachyderm
From this reading The rumble of heavy wagons, and a cloud of dust where they were being shoved into place by the busy elephants.
firesnounUS /ˈfaɪərz/
plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)
From this reading On one edge of the big, vacant lot were wisps of smoke from the fires in the stove wagons, and from these same wagons came appetizing odors.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading On one edge of the big, vacant lot were wisps of smoke from the fires in the stove wagons, and from these same wagons came appetizing odors.
hammersnounUS /ˈhæmərz/
plural of “hammer” — the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled
From this reading The thud of big wooden sledge hammers driving in the tent stakes.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Here and there men and women darted, carrying portions of their costumes in their hands.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The rumble of heavy wagons, and a cloud of dust where they were being shoved into place by the busy elephants.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here and there men and women darted, carrying portions of their costumes in their hands.
plural of “hundred” — ten 10s
From this reading TOO MANY PEOPLE Hundreds of men toiling and sweating over stiff canvas and stiffer ropes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The thud of big wooden sledge hammers driving in the tent stakes.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The rumble of heavy wagons, and a cloud of dust where they were being shoved into place by the busy elephants.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading On one edge of the big, vacant lot were wisps of smoke from the fires in the stove wagons, and from these same wagons came appetizing odors.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading TOO MANY PEOPLE Hundreds of men toiling and sweating over stiff canvas and stiffer ropes.
the force of workers available
From this reading TOO MANY PEOPLE Hundreds of men toiling and sweating over stiff canvas and stiffer ropes.
odorsnounUS /ˈoʊdərz/
plural of “odor” — any property detected by the olfactory system
From this reading On one edge of the big, vacant lot were wisps of smoke from the fires in the stove wagons, and from these same wagons came appetizing odors.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TOO MANY PEOPLE Hundreds of men toiling and sweating over stiff canvas and stiffer ropes.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On one edge of the big, vacant lot were wisps of smoke from the fires in the stove wagons, and from these same wagons came appetizing odors.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading On one edge of the big, vacant lot were wisps of smoke from the fires in the stove wagons, and from these same wagons came appetizing odors.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading TOO MANY PEOPLE Hundreds of men toiling and sweating over stiff canvas and stiffer ropes.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading TOO MANY PEOPLE Hundreds of men toiling and sweating over stiff canvas and stiffer ropes.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The rumble of heavy wagons, and a cloud of dust where they were being shoved into place by the busy elephants.
portionsnounUS /ˈpɔːrʃənz/
plural of “portion” — something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Here and there men and women darted, carrying portions of their costumes in their hands.
ropesnounUS /roʊps/
plural of “rope” — a strong line
From this reading TOO MANY PEOPLE Hundreds of men toiling and sweating over stiff canvas and stiffer ropes.
rumbleverbUS /ˈrʌmbəl/
make a low noise
From this reading The rumble of heavy wagons, and a cloud of dust where they were being shoved into place by the busy elephants.
Identical; not different.
From this reading On one edge of the big, vacant lot were wisps of smoke from the fires in the stove wagons, and from these same wagons came appetizing odors.
shovedverbUS /ʃʌvd/
past form of “shove” — come into rough contact with while moving
From this reading The rumble of heavy wagons, and a cloud of dust where they were being shoved into place by the busy elephants.
sledgeverbUS /sledʒ/
transport in a sleigh
From this reading The thud of big wooden sledge hammers driving in the tent stakes.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading On one edge of the big, vacant lot were wisps of smoke from the fires in the stove wagons, and from these same wagons came appetizing odors.
stakesnounUS /steɪks/
the money risked on a gamble
From this reading The thud of big wooden sledge hammers driving in the tent stakes.
not moving or operating freely
From this reading TOO MANY PEOPLE Hundreds of men toiling and sweating over stiff canvas and stiffer ropes.
stifferadjectiveUS /ˈstɪfər/
comparative of “stiff” — not moving or operating freely
From this reading TOO MANY PEOPLE Hundreds of men toiling and sweating over stiff canvas and stiffer ropes.
stovenounUS /stoʊv/
a kitchen appliance used for cooking food
From this reading On one edge of the big, vacant lot were wisps of smoke from the fires in the stove wagons, and from these same wagons came appetizing odors.
sweatingnounUS /ˈswetɪŋ/
the process of the sweat glands of the skin secreting a salty fluid
From this reading TOO MANY PEOPLE Hundreds of men toiling and sweating over stiff canvas and stiffer ropes.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading The thud of big wooden sledge hammers driving in the tent stakes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The thud of big wooden sledge hammers driving in the tent stakes.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Here and there men and women darted, carrying portions of their costumes in their hands.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Here and there men and women darted, carrying portions of their costumes in their hands.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading On one edge of the big, vacant lot were wisps of smoke from the fires in the stove wagons, and from these same wagons came appetizing odors.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The rumble of heavy wagons, and a cloud of dust where they were being shoved into place by the busy elephants.
thudverbUS /θʌd/
make a dull sound
From this reading The thud of big wooden sledge hammers driving in the tent stakes.
toilingadjectiveUS /ˈtɔɪlɪŋ/
doing arduous or unpleasant work
From this reading TOO MANY PEOPLE Hundreds of men toiling and sweating over stiff canvas and stiffer ropes.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading TOO MANY PEOPLE Hundreds of men toiling and sweating over stiff canvas and stiffer ropes.
vacantadjectiveUS /ˈveɪkənt/
void of intelligence or thought
From this reading On one edge of the big, vacant lot were wisps of smoke from the fires in the stove wagons, and from these same wagons came appetizing odors.
wagonsnounUS /ˈwæɡənz/
plural of “wagon” — any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor
From this reading The rumble of heavy wagons, and a cloud of dust where they were being shoved into place by the busy elephants.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The rumble of heavy wagons, and a cloud of dust where they were being shoved into place by the busy elephants.
in or at the place that
From this reading The rumble of heavy wagons, and a cloud of dust where they were being shoved into place by the busy elephants.
wisps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one edge of the big, vacant lot were wisps of smoke from the fires in the stove wagons, and from these same wagons came appetizing odors.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Here and there men and women darted, carrying portions of their costumes in their hands.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading The thud of big wooden sledge hammers driving in the tent stakes.
