used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The sky was dark and gloomy and the air heavy with the coming of a storm.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Gervaise had not been able to pay her rent, due on the first.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading POVERTY AND DEGRADATION The weather was intensely cold about the middle of January.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The sky was dark and gloomy and the air heavy with the coming of a storm.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading POVERTY AND DEGRADATION The weather was intensely cold about the middle of January.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading Gervaise thought it barely possible that her husband might come in with a little money.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Gervaise had not been able to pay her rent, due on the first.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading POVERTY AND DEGRADATION The weather was intensely cold about the middle of January.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Gervaise thought it barely possible that her husband might come in with a little money.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The sky was dark and gloomy and the air heavy with the coming of a storm.
consequentlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːnsəkwəntli/
(sentence connectors) because of the reason given
From this reading She had little or no work and consequently no food to speak of.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The sky was dark and gloomy and the air heavy with the coming of a storm.
DEGRADATIONnounUS /ˌdeɡrəˈdeɪʃən/
changing to a lower state (a less respected state)
From this reading POVERTY AND DEGRADATION The weather was intensely cold about the middle of January.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading Gervaise had not been able to pay her rent, due on the first.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Gervaise had not been able to pay her rent, due on the first.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading She had little or no work and consequently no food to speak of.
Gervaise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gervaise had not been able to pay her rent, due on the first.
depressingly dark
From this reading The sky was dark and gloomy and the air heavy with the coming of a storm.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Gervaise had not been able to pay her rent, due on the first.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The sky was dark and gloomy and the air heavy with the coming of a storm.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Gervaise had not been able to pay her rent, due on the first.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading Gervaise thought it barely possible that her husband might come in with a little money.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Gervaise thought it barely possible that her husband might come in with a little money.
intenselyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtensli/
to a high degree; extremely; in high concentration or density
From this reading POVERTY AND DEGRADATION The weather was intensely cold about the middle of January.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Gervaise thought it barely possible that her husband might come in with a little money.
JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/
the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice
From this reading POVERTY AND DEGRADATION The weather was intensely cold about the middle of January.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She had little or no work and consequently no food to speak of.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading POVERTY AND DEGRADATION The weather was intensely cold about the middle of January.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Gervaise thought it barely possible that her husband might come in with a little money.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading Gervaise thought it barely possible that her husband might come in with a little money.
not any; not one
From this reading She had little or no work and consequently no food to speak of.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Gervaise had not been able to pay her rent, due on the first.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading POVERTY AND DEGRADATION The weather was intensely cold about the middle of January.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Gervaise had not been able to pay her rent, due on the first.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She had little or no work and consequently no food to speak of.
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading Gervaise had not been able to pay her rent, due on the first.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Gervaise thought it barely possible that her husband might come in with a little money.
the state of having little or no money and few or no material possessions
From this reading POVERTY AND DEGRADATION The weather was intensely cold about the middle of January.
rentverbUS /rent/
let for money
From this reading Gervaise had not been able to pay her rent, due on the first.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had little or no work and consequently no food to speak of.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The sky was dark and gloomy and the air heavy with the coming of a storm.
express in speech
From this reading She had little or no work and consequently no food to speak of.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading The sky was dark and gloomy and the air heavy with the coming of a storm.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Gervaise thought it barely possible that her husband might come in with a little money.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading POVERTY AND DEGRADATION The weather was intensely cold about the middle of January.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Gervaise thought it barely possible that her husband might come in with a little money.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Gervaise had not been able to pay her rent, due on the first.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading POVERTY AND DEGRADATION The weather was intensely cold about the middle of January.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading POVERTY AND DEGRADATION The weather was intensely cold about the middle of January.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The sky was dark and gloomy and the air heavy with the coming of a storm.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading She had little or no work and consequently no food to speak of.
