touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading There was Bill, lounging against the paper stand!
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She snatched at her hat, as she reached the gusty platform.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading IMPASSE I Catherine moved slowly up the covered stairway from the Randolph Street station, sniffing at the strange smell of Chicago.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading There was Bill, lounging against the paper stand!
blownadjectiveUS /bloʊn/
being moved or acted upon by moving air or vapor
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
CatherinenounUS /ˈkæθərən/
first wife of Henry VIII; Henry VIII's divorce from her was the initial step of the Reformation in England (1485-1536)
From this reading IMPASSE I Catherine moved slowly up the covered stairway from the Randolph Street station, sniffing at the strange smell of Chicago.
ChicagonounUS /ʃəˈkɑːɡoʊ/
largest city in Illinois; a bustling Great Lakes port that extends 26 miles along the southwestern shoreline of Lake Michigan
From this reading IMPASSE I Catherine moved slowly up the covered stairway from the Randolph Street station, sniffing at the strange smell of Chicago.
citiesnounUS /ˈsɪtiz/
plural of “city” — a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
compositenounUS /kəmˈpɑːzət/
a conceptual whole made up of complicated and related parts
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading IMPASSE I Catherine moved slowly up the covered stairway from the Randolph Street station, sniffing at the strange smell of Chicago.
decipherverbUS /dɪˈsaɪfər/
convert code into ordinary language
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading What did make it so different from New York?
the quality of being unlike or dissimilar
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading What did make it so different from New York?
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
essentialadjectiveUS /eˈsenʃəl/
absolutely necessary; vitally necessary
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading IMPASSE I Catherine moved slowly up the covered stairway from the Randolph Street station, sniffing at the strange smell of Chicago.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
grindingnounUS /ˈɡraɪndɪŋ/
material resulting from the process of grinding
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
gustyadjectiveUS /ˈɡʌsti/
blowing in puffs or short intermittent blasts
From this reading She snatched at her hat, as she reached the gusty platform.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading She snatched at her hat, as she reached the gusty platform.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading IMPASSE I Catherine moved slowly up the covered stairway from the Randolph Street station, sniffing at the strange smell of Chicago.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
IMPASSEnounUS /ˌɪmˈpæs/
a situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is possible
From this reading IMPASSE I Catherine moved slowly up the covered stairway from the Randolph Street station, sniffing at the strange smell of Chicago.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading What did make it so different from New York?
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
loungingverbUS /ˈlaʊndʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “lounge” — sit or recline comfortably
From this reading There was Bill, lounging against the paper stand!
engage in
From this reading What did make it so different from New York?
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading IMPASSE I Catherine moved slowly up the covered stairway from the Randolph Street station, sniffing at the strange smell of Chicago.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading What did make it so different from New York?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IMPASSE I Catherine moved slowly up the covered stairway from the Randolph Street station, sniffing at the strange smell of Chicago.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading There was Bill, lounging against the paper stand!
a raised horizontal surface
From this reading She snatched at her hat, as she reached the gusty platform.
Randolph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IMPASSE I Catherine moved slowly up the covered stairway from the Randolph Street station, sniffing at the strange smell of Chicago.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading She snatched at her hat, as she reached the gusty platform.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading IMPASSE I Catherine moved slowly up the covered stairway from the Randolph Street station, sniffing at the strange smell of Chicago.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading IMPASSE I Catherine moved slowly up the covered stairway from the Randolph Street station, sniffing at the strange smell of Chicago.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
snatchedverbUS /snætʃt/
past form of “snatch” — to grasp hastily or eagerly
From this reading She snatched at her hat, as she reached the gusty platform.
sniffingverbUS /ˈsnɪfɪŋ/
-ing form of “sniff” — perceive by inhaling through the nose
From this reading IMPASSE I Catherine moved slowly up the covered stairway from the Randolph Street station, sniffing at the strange smell of Chicago.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading What did make it so different from New York?
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
stairwaynounUS /ˈsterweɪ/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading IMPASSE I Catherine moved slowly up the covered stairway from the Randolph Street station, sniffing at the strange smell of Chicago.
be standing; be upright
From this reading There was Bill, lounging against the paper stand!
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading IMPASSE I Catherine moved slowly up the covered stairway from the Randolph Street station, sniffing at the strange smell of Chicago.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading IMPASSE I Catherine moved slowly up the covered stairway from the Randolph Street station, sniffing at the strange smell of Chicago.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading IMPASSE I Catherine moved slowly up the covered stairway from the Randolph Street station, sniffing at the strange smell of Chicago.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IMPASSE I Catherine moved slowly up the covered stairway from the Randolph Street station, sniffing at the strange smell of Chicago.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was Bill, lounging against the paper stand!
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading IMPASSE I Catherine moved slowly up the covered stairway from the Randolph Street station, sniffing at the strange smell of Chicago.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was Bill, lounging against the paper stand!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What did make it so different from New York?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
whirlingnounUS /ˈwɜːrlɪŋ/
the act of rotating in a circle or spiral
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Smoke, blown whirling back in the sharp east wind over the grinding of ice along the lake shore, something more composite than that, which, if she could but decipher, would give her the essential difference between the cities.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading What did make it so different from New York?
