(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading First in groups of twos and threes, and then thick and fast, the men appeared, their lunch boxes under their arms, all making for the gate.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading First in groups of twos and threes, and then thick and fast, the men appeared, their lunch boxes under their arms, all making for the gate.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading First in groups of twos and threes, and then thick and fast, the men appeared, their lunch boxes under their arms, all making for the gate.
arguingnounUS /ˈɑːrɡjuːɪŋ/
a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement
From this reading Some were arguing, some were joking, others looked serious.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading First in groups of twos and threes, and then thick and fast, the men appeared, their lunch boxes under their arms, all making for the gate.
boxesnounUS /ˈbɑːksəz/
plural of “box” — a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading First in groups of twos and threes, and then thick and fast, the men appeared, their lunch boxes under their arms, all making for the gate.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading From one of the windows of Mary's office, she could see the factory gate.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She didn't have to watch long.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "If they do go on strike," she thought, "I shall see them walk out."
factorynounUS /ˈfæktəri/
a plant consisting of one or more buildings with facilities for manufacturing
From this reading From one of the windows of Mary's office, she could see the factory gate.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading First in groups of twos and threes, and then thick and fast, the men appeared, their lunch boxes under their arms, all making for the gate.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading First in groups of twos and threes, and then thick and fast, the men appeared, their lunch boxes under their arms, all making for the gate.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading First in groups of twos and threes, and then thick and fast, the men appeared, their lunch boxes under their arms, all making for the gate.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From one of the windows of Mary's office, she could see the factory gate.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading From one of the windows of Mary's office, she could see the factory gate.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "If they do go on strike," she thought, "I shall see them walk out."
groupsnounUS /ɡruːps/
plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading First in groups of twos and threes, and then thick and fast, the men appeared, their lunch boxes under their arms, all making for the gate.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She didn't have to watch long.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "If they do go on strike," she thought, "I shall see them walk out."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "If they do go on strike," she thought, "I shall see them walk out."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading First in groups of twos and threes, and then thick and fast, the men appeared, their lunch boxes under their arms, all making for the gate.
jokingadjectiveUS /ˈdʒoʊkɪŋ/
characterized by jokes and good humor
From this reading Some were arguing, some were joking, others looked serious.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading She didn't have to watch long.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Some were arguing, some were joking, others looked serious.
take the midday meal
From this reading First in groups of twos and threes, and then thick and fast, the men appeared, their lunch boxes under their arms, all making for the gate.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading First in groups of twos and threes, and then thick and fast, the men appeared, their lunch boxes under their arms, all making for the gate.
Mary'snounUS /ˈmeriz/
possessive form of “mary” — the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading From one of the windows of Mary's office, she could see the factory gate.
the force of workers available
From this reading First in groups of twos and threes, and then thick and fast, the men appeared, their lunch boxes under their arms, all making for the gate.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From one of the windows of Mary's office, she could see the factory gate.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading From one of the windows of Mary's office, she could see the factory gate.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "If they do go on strike," she thought, "I shall see them walk out."
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading From one of the windows of Mary's office, she could see the factory gate.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some were arguing, some were joking, others looked serious.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "If they do go on strike," she thought, "I shall see them walk out."
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading From one of the windows of Mary's office, she could see the factory gate.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading Some were arguing, some were joking, others looked serious.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "If they do go on strike," she thought, "I shall see them walk out."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From one of the windows of Mary's office, she could see the factory gate.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some were arguing, some were joking, others looked serious.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading "If they do go on strike," she thought, "I shall see them walk out."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From one of the windows of Mary's office, she could see the factory gate.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading First in groups of twos and threes, and then thick and fast, the men appeared, their lunch boxes under their arms, all making for the gate.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "If they do go on strike," she thought, "I shall see them walk out."
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading First in groups of twos and threes, and then thick and fast, the men appeared, their lunch boxes under their arms, all making for the gate.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "If they do go on strike," she thought, "I shall see them walk out."
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading First in groups of twos and threes, and then thick and fast, the men appeared, their lunch boxes under their arms, all making for the gate.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "If they do go on strike," she thought, "I shall see them walk out."
threesnounUS /θriːz/
plural of “three” — the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading First in groups of twos and threes, and then thick and fast, the men appeared, their lunch boxes under their arms, all making for the gate.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She didn't have to watch long.
twosnounUS /tuːz/
plural of “two” — the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading First in groups of twos and threes, and then thick and fast, the men appeared, their lunch boxes under their arms, all making for the gate.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading First in groups of twos and threes, and then thick and fast, the men appeared, their lunch boxes under their arms, all making for the gate.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading "If they do go on strike," she thought, "I shall see them walk out."
look attentively
From this reading She didn't have to watch long.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Some were arguing, some were joking, others looked serious.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading From one of the windows of Mary's office, she could see the factory gate.
