used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The janitor, following in the footsteps of most janitors, had made up an extra hot fire in the furnace because it was Sunday and because it was a warm Sunday.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading THE QUARREL NEXT DOOR Josie was right; the song of the frogs meant spring was on the way--in the air--in the ground--in one’s bones.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The janitor, following in the footsteps of most janitors, had made up an extra hot fire in the furnace because it was Sunday and because it was a warm Sunday.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The janitor, following in the footsteps of most janitors, had made up an extra hot fire in the furnace because it was Sunday and because it was a warm Sunday.
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading The Leslies’ apartment was hot, hot to suffocation.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading When Josie sought the quiet of her own room to escape the reiterated wailings of Mrs. Leslie and to read her precious little book, she found the atmosphere oppressively heavy.
for the reason that
From this reading The janitor, following in the footsteps of most janitors, had made up an extra hot fire in the furnace because it was Sunday and because it was a warm Sunday.
(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance
From this reading THE QUARREL NEXT DOOR Josie was right; the song of the frogs meant spring was on the way--in the air--in the ground--in one’s bones.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading When Josie sought the quiet of her own room to escape the reiterated wailings of Mrs. Leslie and to read her precious little book, she found the atmosphere oppressively heavy.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading To escape it she raised her window and leaned far out, drinking deep of the soft spring air.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading THE QUARREL NEXT DOOR Josie was right; the song of the frogs meant spring was on the way--in the air--in the ground--in one’s bones.
the act of consuming liquids
From this reading To escape it she raised her window and leaned far out, drinking deep of the soft spring air.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading When Josie sought the quiet of her own room to escape the reiterated wailings of Mrs. Leslie and to read her precious little book, she found the atmosphere oppressively heavy.
extraadjectiveUS /ˈekstrə/
more than is needed, desired, or required
From this reading The janitor, following in the footsteps of most janitors, had made up an extra hot fire in the furnace because it was Sunday and because it was a warm Sunday.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading To escape it she raised her window and leaned far out, drinking deep of the soft spring air.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The janitor, following in the footsteps of most janitors, had made up an extra hot fire in the furnace because it was Sunday and because it was a warm Sunday.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading The janitor, following in the footsteps of most janitors, had made up an extra hot fire in the furnace because it was Sunday and because it was a warm Sunday.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading The janitor, following in the footsteps of most janitors, had made up an extra hot fire in the furnace because it was Sunday and because it was a warm Sunday.
set up or found
From this reading When Josie sought the quiet of her own room to escape the reiterated wailings of Mrs. Leslie and to read her precious little book, she found the atmosphere oppressively heavy.
frogsnounUS /frɑːɡz/
plural of “frog” — any of various tailless stout-bodied amphibians with long hind limbs for leaping; semiaquatic and terrestrial species
From this reading THE QUARREL NEXT DOOR Josie was right; the song of the frogs meant spring was on the way--in the air--in the ground--in one’s bones.
furnacenounUS /ˈfɜːrnəs/
an enclosed chamber in which heat is produced to heat buildings, destroy refuse, smelt or refine ores, etc.
From this reading The janitor, following in the footsteps of most janitors, had made up an extra hot fire in the furnace because it was Sunday and because it was a warm Sunday.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading THE QUARREL NEXT DOOR Josie was right; the song of the frogs meant spring was on the way--in the air--in the ground--in one’s bones.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The janitor, following in the footsteps of most janitors, had made up an extra hot fire in the furnace because it was Sunday and because it was a warm Sunday.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading When Josie sought the quiet of her own room to escape the reiterated wailings of Mrs. Leslie and to read her precious little book, she found the atmosphere oppressively heavy.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Josie sought the quiet of her own room to escape the reiterated wailings of Mrs. Leslie and to read her precious little book, she found the atmosphere oppressively heavy.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading The Leslies’ apartment was hot, hot to suffocation.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE QUARREL NEXT DOOR Josie was right; the song of the frogs meant spring was on the way--in the air--in the ground--in one’s bones.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The janitor, following in the footsteps of most janitors, had made up an extra hot fire in the furnace because it was Sunday and because it was a warm Sunday.
janitornounUS /ˈdʒænətər/
someone employed to clean and maintain a building
From this reading The janitor, following in the footsteps of most janitors, had made up an extra hot fire in the furnace because it was Sunday and because it was a warm Sunday.
janitorsnounUS /ˈdʒænətərz/
plural of “janitor” — someone employed to clean and maintain a building
From this reading The janitor, following in the footsteps of most janitors, had made up an extra hot fire in the furnace because it was Sunday and because it was a warm Sunday.
Josie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE QUARREL NEXT DOOR Josie was right; the song of the frogs meant spring was on the way--in the air--in the ground--in one’s bones.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading To escape it she raised her window and leaned far out, drinking deep of the soft spring air.
Leslie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Josie sought the quiet of her own room to escape the reiterated wailings of Mrs. Leslie and to read her precious little book, she found the atmosphere oppressively heavy.
Leslies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Leslies’ apartment was hot, hot to suffocation.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When Josie sought the quiet of her own room to escape the reiterated wailings of Mrs. Leslie and to read her precious little book, she found the atmosphere oppressively heavy.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The janitor, following in the footsteps of most janitors, had made up an extra hot fire in the furnace because it was Sunday and because it was a warm Sunday.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading THE QUARREL NEXT DOOR Josie was right; the song of the frogs meant spring was on the way--in the air--in the ground--in one’s bones.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The janitor, following in the footsteps of most janitors, had made up an extra hot fire in the furnace because it was Sunday and because it was a warm Sunday.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading When Josie sought the quiet of her own room to escape the reiterated wailings of Mrs. Leslie and to read her precious little book, she found the atmosphere oppressively heavy.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading THE QUARREL NEXT DOOR Josie was right; the song of the frogs meant spring was on the way--in the air--in the ground--in one’s bones.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE QUARREL NEXT DOOR Josie was right; the song of the frogs meant spring was on the way--in the air--in the ground--in one’s bones.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE QUARREL NEXT DOOR Josie was right; the song of the frogs meant spring was on the way--in the air--in the ground--in one’s bones.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE QUARREL NEXT DOOR Josie was right; the song of the frogs meant spring was on the way--in the air--in the ground--in one’s bones.
oppressivelyadverb
in a heavy and oppressive way
From this reading When Josie sought the quiet of her own room to escape the reiterated wailings of Mrs. Leslie and to read her precious little book, she found the atmosphere oppressively heavy.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading To escape it she raised her window and leaned far out, drinking deep of the soft spring air.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading When Josie sought the quiet of her own room to escape the reiterated wailings of Mrs. Leslie and to read her precious little book, she found the atmosphere oppressively heavy.
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
From this reading When Josie sought the quiet of her own room to escape the reiterated wailings of Mrs. Leslie and to read her precious little book, she found the atmosphere oppressively heavy.
an angry dispute
From this reading THE QUARREL NEXT DOOR Josie was right; the song of the frogs meant spring was on the way--in the air--in the ground--in one’s bones.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading When Josie sought the quiet of her own room to escape the reiterated wailings of Mrs. Leslie and to read her precious little book, she found the atmosphere oppressively heavy.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading To escape it she raised her window and leaned far out, drinking deep of the soft spring air.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading When Josie sought the quiet of her own room to escape the reiterated wailings of Mrs. Leslie and to read her precious little book, she found the atmosphere oppressively heavy.
reiteratedverbUS /riˈɪtəreɪtɪd/
past form of “reiterate” — to say, state, or perform again
From this reading When Josie sought the quiet of her own room to escape the reiterated wailings of Mrs. Leslie and to read her precious little book, she found the atmosphere oppressively heavy.
precisely, exactly
From this reading THE QUARREL NEXT DOOR Josie was right; the song of the frogs meant spring was on the way--in the air--in the ground--in one’s bones.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading When Josie sought the quiet of her own room to escape the reiterated wailings of Mrs. Leslie and to read her precious little book, she found the atmosphere oppressively heavy.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Josie sought the quiet of her own room to escape the reiterated wailings of Mrs. Leslie and to read her precious little book, she found the atmosphere oppressively heavy.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading To escape it she raised her window and leaned far out, drinking deep of the soft spring air.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading THE QUARREL NEXT DOOR Josie was right; the song of the frogs meant spring was on the way--in the air--in the ground--in one’s bones.
that is looked for
From this reading When Josie sought the quiet of her own room to escape the reiterated wailings of Mrs. Leslie and to read her precious little book, she found the atmosphere oppressively heavy.
the season of growth
From this reading THE QUARREL NEXT DOOR Josie was right; the song of the frogs meant spring was on the way--in the air--in the ground--in one’s bones.
suffocationnounUS /ˌsʌfəˈkeɪʃən/
killing by depriving of oxygen
From this reading The Leslies’ apartment was hot, hot to suffocation.
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading The janitor, following in the footsteps of most janitors, had made up an extra hot fire in the furnace because it was Sunday and because it was a warm Sunday.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE QUARREL NEXT DOOR Josie was right; the song of the frogs meant spring was on the way--in the air--in the ground--in one’s bones.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Leslies’ apartment was hot, hot to suffocation.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The janitor, following in the footsteps of most janitors, had made up an extra hot fire in the furnace because it was Sunday and because it was a warm Sunday.
wailings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Josie sought the quiet of her own room to escape the reiterated wailings of Mrs. Leslie and to read her precious little book, she found the atmosphere oppressively heavy.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading The janitor, following in the footsteps of most janitors, had made up an extra hot fire in the furnace because it was Sunday and because it was a warm Sunday.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE QUARREL NEXT DOOR Josie was right; the song of the frogs meant spring was on the way--in the air--in the ground--in one’s bones.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading THE QUARREL NEXT DOOR Josie was right; the song of the frogs meant spring was on the way--in the air--in the ground--in one’s bones.
at the time that
From this reading When Josie sought the quiet of her own room to escape the reiterated wailings of Mrs. Leslie and to read her precious little book, she found the atmosphere oppressively heavy.
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 To escape it she raised her window and leaned far out, drinking deep of the soft spring air.
