used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Once in the cellar she had seen little glass tubes of peculiar shape, coloured papers, and a big machine.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading She had seen men who came to the private bar, and never called for a drink, but had one given them, and who sat and mumbled across the counter for hours at a stretch.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Lois knew that this was not an idle threat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Once in the cellar she had seen little glass tubes of peculiar shape, coloured papers, and a big machine.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She had seen things done at the Blue Lantern.
a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter
From this reading She had seen men who came to the private bar, and never called for a drink, but had one given them, and who sat and mumbled across the counter for hours at a stretch.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Once in the cellar she had seen little glass tubes of peculiar shape, coloured papers, and a big machine.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading She had seen things done at the Blue Lantern.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She had seen men who came to the private bar, and never called for a drink, but had one given them, and who sat and mumbled across the counter for hours at a stretch.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading She had seen men who came to the private bar, and never called for a drink, but had one given them, and who sat and mumbled across the counter for hours at a stretch.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She had seen men who came to the private bar, and never called for a drink, but had one given them, and who sat and mumbled across the counter for hours at a stretch.
cellarnounUS /ˈselər/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading Once in the cellar she had seen little glass tubes of peculiar shape, coloured papers, and a big machine.
colouredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌlərd/
having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Once in the cellar she had seen little glass tubes of peculiar shape, coloured papers, and a big machine.
counternounUS /ˈkaʊntər/
table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business is transacted
From this reading She had seen men who came to the private bar, and never called for a drink, but had one given them, and who sat and mumbled across the counter for hours at a stretch.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading She had seen things done at the Blue Lantern.
take in liquids
From this reading She had seen men who came to the private bar, and never called for a drink, but had one given them, and who sat and mumbled across the counter for hours at a stretch.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had seen men who came to the private bar, and never called for a drink, but had one given them, and who sat and mumbled across the counter for hours at a stretch.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading She had seen men who came to the private bar, and never called for a drink, but had one given them, and who sat and mumbled across the counter for hours at a stretch.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading Once in the cellar she had seen little glass tubes of peculiar shape, coloured papers, and a big machine.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had seen things done at the Blue Lantern.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading She had seen men who came to the private bar, and never called for a drink, but had one given them, and who sat and mumbled across the counter for hours at a stretch.
not in action or at work
From this reading Lois knew that this was not an idle threat.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Once in the cellar she had seen little glass tubes of peculiar shape, coloured papers, and a big machine.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading There were rooms into which she was not permitted to pry.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Lois knew that this was not an idle threat.
LanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/
light in a transparent protective case
From this reading She had seen things done at the Blue Lantern.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Once in the cellar she had seen little glass tubes of peculiar shape, coloured papers, and a big machine.
Lois
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lois knew that this was not an idle threat.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading Once in the cellar she had seen little glass tubes of peculiar shape, coloured papers, and a big machine.
the force of workers available
From this reading She had seen men who came to the private bar, and never called for a drink, but had one given them, and who sat and mumbled across the counter for hours at a stretch.
mumbledverbUS /ˈmʌmbəld/
past form of “mumble” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading She had seen men who came to the private bar, and never called for a drink, but had one given them, and who sat and mumbled across the counter for hours at a stretch.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She had seen men who came to the private bar, and never called for a drink, but had one given them, and who sat and mumbled across the counter for hours at a stretch.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Lois knew that this was not an idle threat.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Once in the cellar she had seen little glass tubes of peculiar shape, coloured papers, and a big machine.
on one occasion
From this reading Once in the cellar she had seen little glass tubes of peculiar shape, coloured papers, and a big machine.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She had seen men who came to the private bar, and never called for a drink, but had one given them, and who sat and mumbled across the counter for hours at a stretch.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading Once in the cellar she had seen little glass tubes of peculiar shape, coloured papers, and a big machine.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading Once in the cellar she had seen little glass tubes of peculiar shape, coloured papers, and a big machine.
inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission
From this reading There were rooms into which she was not permitted to pry.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading She had seen men who came to the private bar, and never called for a drink, but had one given them, and who sat and mumbled across the counter for hours at a stretch.
pryverbUS /praɪ/
to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open
From this reading There were rooms into which she was not permitted to pry.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading There were rooms into which she was not permitted to pry.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading She had seen men who came to the private bar, and never called for a drink, but had one given them, and who sat and mumbled across the counter for hours at a stretch.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She had seen things done at the Blue Lantern.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading Once in the cellar she had seen little glass tubes of peculiar shape, coloured papers, and a big machine.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had seen things done at the Blue Lantern.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading She had seen men who came to the private bar, and never called for a drink, but had one given them, and who sat and mumbled across the counter for hours at a stretch.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Lois knew that this was not an idle threat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She had seen things done at the Blue Lantern.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She had seen men who came to the private bar, and never called for a drink, but had one given them, and who sat and mumbled across the counter for hours at a stretch.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were rooms into which she was not permitted to pry.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading She had seen things done at the Blue Lantern.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Lois knew that this was not an idle threat.
threatnounUS /θret/
something that is a source of danger
From this reading Lois knew that this was not an idle threat.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There were rooms into which she was not permitted to pry.
tubesnounUS /tuːbz/
plural of “tube” — conduit consisting of a long hollow object (usually cylindrical) used to hold and conduct objects or liquids or gases
From this reading Once in the cellar she had seen little glass tubes of peculiar shape, coloured papers, and a big machine.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lois knew that this was not an idle threat.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were rooms into which she was not permitted to pry.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There were rooms into which she was not permitted to pry.
which person or people
From this reading She had seen men who came to the private bar, and never called for a drink, but had one given them, and who sat and mumbled across the counter for hours at a stretch.
