used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For it was a place where trouble was the commonplace, and what the comfortable call tragedy almost a nursery rule.
AlleynounUS /ˈæli/
a narrow street with walls on both sides
From this reading THERE was trouble at Shindies Alley, not that there was anything unusual in that!
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading For it was a place where trouble was the commonplace, and what the comfortable call tragedy almost a nursery rule.
amountingverbUS /əˈmaʊntɪŋ/
-ing form of “amount” — be tantamount or equivalent to
From this reading Only the trouble was worse than usual, amounting to the prospect of the police and a possible murder case in the papers.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For it was a place where trouble was the commonplace, and what the comfortable call tragedy almost a nursery rule.
any thing at all
From this reading THERE was trouble at Shindies Alley, not that there was anything unusual in that!
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Rough Tom” being not quite so drunk as usual had beaten his wife nearly to death, a thing he had done before, but never quite so effectually.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THERE was trouble at Shindies Alley, not that there was anything unusual in that!
formed or made thin by hammering
From this reading “Rough Tom” being not quite so drunk as usual had beaten his wife nearly to death, a thing he had done before, but never quite so effectually.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “Rough Tom” being not quite so drunk as usual had beaten his wife nearly to death, a thing he had done before, but never quite so effectually.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading “Life’s business being just the terrible choice.”
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading “Life’s business being just the terrible choice.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “Rough Tom” being not quite so drunk as usual had beaten his wife nearly to death, a thing he had done before, but never quite so effectually.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading For it was a place where trouble was the commonplace, and what the comfortable call tragedy almost a nursery rule.
an occurrence of something
From this reading Only the trouble was worse than usual, amounting to the prospect of the police and a possible murder case in the papers.
the person or thing chosen or selected
From this reading “Life’s business being just the terrible choice.”
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading For it was a place where trouble was the commonplace, and what the comfortable call tragedy almost a nursery rule.
commonplaceadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmənpleɪs/
completely ordinary and unremarkable
From this reading For it was a place where trouble was the commonplace, and what the comfortable call tragedy almost a nursery rule.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading “Rough Tom” being not quite so drunk as usual had beaten his wife nearly to death, a thing he had done before, but never quite so effectually.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading “Rough Tom” being not quite so drunk as usual had beaten his wife nearly to death, a thing he had done before, but never quite so effectually.
stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading “Rough Tom” being not quite so drunk as usual had beaten his wife nearly to death, a thing he had done before, but never quite so effectually.
effectuallyadverb
in an effectual manner
From this reading “Rough Tom” being not quite so drunk as usual had beaten his wife nearly to death, a thing he had done before, but never quite so effectually.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For it was a place where trouble was the commonplace, and what the comfortable call tragedy almost a nursery rule.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “Rough Tom” being not quite so drunk as usual had beaten his wife nearly to death, a thing he had done before, but never quite so effectually.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Rough Tom” being not quite so drunk as usual had beaten his wife nearly to death, a thing he had done before, but never quite so effectually.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Rough Tom” being not quite so drunk as usual had beaten his wife nearly to death, a thing he had done before, but never quite so effectually.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THERE was trouble at Shindies Alley, not that there was anything unusual in that!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For it was a place where trouble was the commonplace, and what the comfortable call tragedy almost a nursery rule.
and nothing more
From this reading “Life’s business being just the terrible choice.”
Life'snounUS /laɪfs/
possessive form of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading “Life’s business being just the terrible choice.”
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading Only the trouble was worse than usual, amounting to the prospect of the police and a possible murder case in the papers.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading “Rough Tom” being not quite so drunk as usual had beaten his wife nearly to death, a thing he had done before, but never quite so effectually.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “Rough Tom” being not quite so drunk as usual had beaten his wife nearly to death, a thing he had done before, but never quite so effectually.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THERE was trouble at Shindies Alley, not that there was anything unusual in that!
nurserynounUS /ˈnɜːrsəri/
a child's room for a baby
From this reading For it was a place where trouble was the commonplace, and what the comfortable call tragedy almost a nursery rule.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Only the trouble was worse than usual, amounting to the prospect of the police and a possible murder case in the papers.
and nothing more
From this reading Only the trouble was worse than usual, amounting to the prospect of the police and a possible murder case in the papers.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading Only the trouble was worse than usual, amounting to the prospect of the police and a possible murder case in the papers.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading For it was a place where trouble was the commonplace, and what the comfortable call tragedy almost a nursery rule.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading Only the trouble was worse than usual, amounting to the prospect of the police and a possible murder case in the papers.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Only the trouble was worse than usual, amounting to the prospect of the police and a possible murder case in the papers.
the possibility of future success
From this reading Only the trouble was worse than usual, amounting to the prospect of the police and a possible murder case in the papers.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading “Rough Tom” being not quite so drunk as usual had beaten his wife nearly to death, a thing he had done before, but never quite so effectually.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading “Rough Tom” being not quite so drunk as usual had beaten his wife nearly to death, a thing he had done before, but never quite so effectually.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading For it was a place where trouble was the commonplace, and what the comfortable call tragedy almost a nursery rule.
Shindies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THERE was trouble at Shindies Alley, not that there was anything unusual in that!
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Rough Tom” being not quite so drunk as usual had beaten his wife nearly to death, a thing he had done before, but never quite so effectually.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading “Life’s business being just the terrible choice.”
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Only the trouble was worse than usual, amounting to the prospect of the police and a possible murder case in the papers.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THERE was trouble at Shindies Alley, not that there was anything unusual in that!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Life’s business being just the terrible choice.”
in or at that place or location
From this reading THERE was trouble at Shindies Alley, not that there was anything unusual in that!
a special situation
From this reading “Rough Tom” being not quite so drunk as usual had beaten his wife nearly to death, a thing he had done before, but never quite so effectually.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Only the trouble was worse than usual, amounting to the prospect of the police and a possible murder case in the papers.
male cat
From this reading “Rough Tom” being not quite so drunk as usual had beaten his wife nearly to death, a thing he had done before, but never quite so effectually.
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading For it was a place where trouble was the commonplace, and what the comfortable call tragedy almost a nursery rule.
a source of difficulty
From this reading THERE was trouble at Shindies Alley, not that there was anything unusual in that!
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading THERE was trouble at Shindies Alley, not that there was anything unusual in that!
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Only the trouble was worse than usual, amounting to the prospect of the police and a possible murder case in the papers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THERE was trouble at Shindies Alley, not that there was anything unusual in that!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading For it was a place where trouble was the commonplace, and what the comfortable call tragedy almost a nursery rule.
in or at the place that
From this reading For it was a place where trouble was the commonplace, and what the comfortable call tragedy almost a nursery rule.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading “Rough Tom” being not quite so drunk as usual had beaten his wife nearly to death, a thing he had done before, but never quite so effectually.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading Only the trouble was worse than usual, amounting to the prospect of the police and a possible murder case in the papers.
