used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Even the insect hum was pitched on a drowsy note.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The darkness seemed almost fat in its greasy heaviness.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Two of the sweating factory boys were playing tom-tom on upturned kerosene cans, and a third was throwing in an erratic obligato with two pieces of scrap iron for an instrument.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading EXHIBITS ANTISEPTICS The night was hot, and steamy, and still.
ANTISEPTICS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EXHIBITS ANTISEPTICS The night was hot, and steamy, and still.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading And from the river behind a pair of crocodiles made unpleasant noises with irritating persistency.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Two of the sweating factory boys were playing tom-tom on upturned kerosene cans, and a third was throwing in an erratic obligato with two pieces of scrap iron for an instrument.
cansnounUS /kænz/
plural of “can” — airtight sealed metal container for food or drink or paint etc.
From this reading Two of the sweating factory boys were playing tom-tom on upturned kerosene cans, and a third was throwing in an erratic obligato with two pieces of scrap iron for an instrument.
crocodilesnounUS /ˈkrɑːkədaɪlz/
plural of “crocodile” — large voracious aquatic reptile having a long snout with massive jaws and sharp teeth and a body covered with bony plates; of sluggish tropical waters
From this reading And from the river behind a pair of crocodiles made unpleasant noises with irritating persistency.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The darkness seemed almost fat in its greasy heaviness.
drowsyadjectiveUS /ˈdraʊzi/
half asleep
From this reading Even the insect hum was pitched on a drowsy note.
erraticadjectiveUS /ɪˈrætɪk/
liable to sudden unpredictable change
From this reading Two of the sweating factory boys were playing tom-tom on upturned kerosene cans, and a third was throwing in an erratic obligato with two pieces of scrap iron for an instrument.
divisible by two
From this reading Even the insect hum was pitched on a drowsy note.
EXHIBITSnounUS /ɪɡˈzɪbəts/
plural of “exhibit” — an object or statement produced before a court of law and referred to while giving evidence
From this reading EXHIBITS ANTISEPTICS The night was hot, and steamy, and still.
factorynounUS /ˈfæktəri/
a plant consisting of one or more buildings with facilities for manufacturing
From this reading Two of the sweating factory boys were playing tom-tom on upturned kerosene cans, and a third was throwing in an erratic obligato with two pieces of scrap iron for an instrument.
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading The darkness seemed almost fat in its greasy heaviness.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Two of the sweating factory boys were playing tom-tom on upturned kerosene cans, and a third was throwing in an erratic obligato with two pieces of scrap iron for an instrument.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading And from the river behind a pair of crocodiles made unpleasant noises with irritating persistency.
greasyadjectiveUS /ˈɡriːsi/
containing an unusual amount of grease or oil
From this reading The darkness seemed almost fat in its greasy heaviness.
heavinessnoun
the property of being comparatively great in weight
From this reading The darkness seemed almost fat in its greasy heaviness.
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 EXHIBITS ANTISEPTICS The night was hot, and steamy, and still.
humverbUS /hʌm/
sing with closed lips
From this reading Even the insect hum was pitched on a drowsy note.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The darkness seemed almost fat in its greasy heaviness.
insectnounUS /ˈɪnsekt/
small air-breathing arthropod
From this reading Even the insect hum was pitched on a drowsy note.
instrumentnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənt/
a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading Two of the sweating factory boys were playing tom-tom on upturned kerosene cans, and a third was throwing in an erratic obligato with two pieces of scrap iron for an instrument.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading Two of the sweating factory boys were playing tom-tom on upturned kerosene cans, and a third was throwing in an erratic obligato with two pieces of scrap iron for an instrument.
irritatingadjectiveUS /ˈɪrəteɪtɪŋ/
causing irritation or annoyance
From this reading And from the river behind a pair of crocodiles made unpleasant noises with irritating persistency.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The darkness seemed almost fat in its greasy heaviness.
kerosenenounUS /ˈkerəsiːn/
a flammable hydrocarbon oil used as fuel in lamps and heaters
From this reading Two of the sweating factory boys were playing tom-tom on upturned kerosene cans, and a third was throwing in an erratic obligato with two pieces of scrap iron for an instrument.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading And from the river behind a pair of crocodiles made unpleasant noises with irritating persistency.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading EXHIBITS ANTISEPTICS The night was hot, and steamy, and still.
noisesnounUS /ˈnɔɪzɪz/
plural of “noise” — sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading And from the river behind a pair of crocodiles made unpleasant noises with irritating persistency.
a brief written record
From this reading Even the insect hum was pitched on a drowsy note.
obligatonoun
a persistent but subordinate motif
From this reading Two of the sweating factory boys were playing tom-tom on upturned kerosene cans, and a third was throwing in an erratic obligato with two pieces of scrap iron for an instrument.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Two of the sweating factory boys were playing tom-tom on upturned kerosene cans, and a third was throwing in an erratic obligato with two pieces of scrap iron for an instrument.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Even the insect hum was pitched on a drowsy note.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading And from the river behind a pair of crocodiles made unpleasant noises with irritating persistency.
persistencynoun
persistent determination
From this reading And from the river behind a pair of crocodiles made unpleasant noises with irritating persistency.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading Two of the sweating factory boys were playing tom-tom on upturned kerosene cans, and a third was throwing in an erratic obligato with two pieces of scrap iron for an instrument.
pitchedadjectiveUS /pɪtʃt/
(of sound) set to a certain pitch or key; usually used as a combining form
From this reading Even the insect hum was pitched on a drowsy note.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading Two of the sweating factory boys were playing tom-tom on upturned kerosene cans, and a third was throwing in an erratic obligato with two pieces of scrap iron for an instrument.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading And from the river behind a pair of crocodiles made unpleasant noises with irritating persistency.
scrapnounUS /skræp/
a small fragment of something broken off from the whole
From this reading Two of the sweating factory boys were playing tom-tom on upturned kerosene cans, and a third was throwing in an erratic obligato with two pieces of scrap iron for an instrument.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The darkness seemed almost fat in its greasy heaviness.
steamyadjectiveUS /ˈstiːmi/
filled with steam or emitting moisture in the form of vapor or mist
From this reading EXHIBITS ANTISEPTICS The night was hot, and steamy, and still.
not in physical motion
From this reading EXHIBITS ANTISEPTICS The night was hot, and steamy, and still.
sweatingnounUS /ˈswetɪŋ/
the process of the sweat glands of the skin secreting a salty fluid
From this reading Two of the sweating factory boys were playing tom-tom on upturned kerosene cans, and a third was throwing in an erratic obligato with two pieces of scrap iron for an instrument.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading EXHIBITS ANTISEPTICS The night was hot, and steamy, and still.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading Two of the sweating factory boys were playing tom-tom on upturned kerosene cans, and a third was throwing in an erratic obligato with two pieces of scrap iron for an instrument.
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading Two of the sweating factory boys were playing tom-tom on upturned kerosene cans, and a third was throwing in an erratic obligato with two pieces of scrap iron for an instrument.
tom-tomnoun
any of various drums with small heads
From this reading Two of the sweating factory boys were playing tom-tom on upturned kerosene cans, and a third was throwing in an erratic obligato with two pieces of scrap iron for an instrument.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two of the sweating factory boys were playing tom-tom on upturned kerosene cans, and a third was throwing in an erratic obligato with two pieces of scrap iron for an instrument.
offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness
From this reading And from the river behind a pair of crocodiles made unpleasant noises with irritating persistency.
upturnedadjective
having been turned so that the bottom is no longer the bottom
From this reading Two of the sweating factory boys were playing tom-tom on upturned kerosene cans, and a third was throwing in an erratic obligato with two pieces of scrap iron for an instrument.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading EXHIBITS ANTISEPTICS The night was hot, and steamy, and still.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Two of the sweating factory boys were playing tom-tom on upturned kerosene cans, and a third was throwing in an erratic obligato with two pieces of scrap iron for an instrument.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Two of the sweating factory boys were playing tom-tom on upturned kerosene cans, and a third was throwing in an erratic obligato with two pieces of scrap iron for an instrument.
