used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
(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 With the first stroke of the larger gong, the sitting-room was empty--Captain Keighley was shouting to the pilot, “All right there!
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Lieutenant Moore dropped his newspaper and looked up to count the strokes of the bell with an expression of relief.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The men straightened back from their dominoes; and when the little bell started to ring the third number of a station in their district, they rose with a smile.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading Lieutenant Moore dropped his newspaper and looked up to count the strokes of the bell with an expression of relief.
blazenounUS /bleɪz/
a strong flame that burns brightly
From this reading VI They were waiting so, one night, when the next water-front blaze came to relieve the monotony of their inaction.
brightenedverbUS /ˈbraɪtənd/
past form of “brighten” — make more cheerful through the use of color
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading VI They were waiting so, one night, when the next water-front blaze came to relieve the monotony of their inaction.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading With the first stroke of the larger gong, the sitting-room was empty--Captain Keighley was shouting to the pilot, “All right there!
determine the number or amount of
From this reading Lieutenant Moore dropped his newspaper and looked up to count the strokes of the bell with an expression of relief.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
dominoesnounUS /ˈdɑːmənoʊz/
any of several games played with small rectangular blocks
From this reading The men straightened back from their dominoes; and when the little bell started to ring the third number of a station in their district, they rose with a smile.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Lieutenant Moore dropped his newspaper and looked up to count the strokes of the bell with an expression of relief.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading With the first stroke of the larger gong, the sitting-room was empty--Captain Keighley was shouting to the pilot, “All right there!
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading Lieutenant Moore dropped his newspaper and looked up to count the strokes of the bell with an expression of relief.
start firing a weapon
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
gongnounUS /ɡɔːŋ/
a percussion instrument consisting of a metal plate that is struck with a softheaded drumstick
From this reading With the first stroke of the larger gong, the sitting-room was empty--Captain Keighley was shouting to the pilot, “All right there!
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
inactionnounUS /ˌɪˈnækʃən/
the state of being inactive
From this reading VI They were waiting so, one night, when the next water-front blaze came to relieve the monotony of their inaction.
jiggernoun
a small glass adequate to hold a single swallow of whiskey
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
Keighley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
set down according to a plan
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
large or big relative to something else
From this reading With the first stroke of the larger gong, the sitting-room was empty--Captain Keighley was shouting to the pilot, “All right there!
a commissioned military officer
From this reading Lieutenant Moore dropped his newspaper and looked up to count the strokes of the bell with an expression of relief.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The men straightened back from their dominoes; and when the little bell started to ring the third number of a station in their district, they rose with a smile.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Lieutenant Moore dropped his newspaper and looked up to count the strokes of the bell with an expression of relief.
the force of workers available
From this reading The men straightened back from their dominoes; and when the little bell started to ring the third number of a station in their district, they rose with a smile.
monotonynounUS /məˈnɑːtəni/
the quality of wearisome constancy, routine, and lack of variety
From this reading VI They were waiting so, one night, when the next water-front blaze came to relieve the monotony of their inaction.
MoorenounUS /mʊr/
United States composer of works noted for their use of the American vernacular (1893-1969)
From this reading Lieutenant Moore dropped his newspaper and looked up to count the strokes of the bell with an expression of relief.
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading Lieutenant Moore dropped his newspaper and looked up to count the strokes of the bell with an expression of relief.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading VI They were waiting so, one night, when the next water-front blaze came to relieve the monotony of their inaction.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading VI They were waiting so, one night, when the next water-front blaze came to relieve the monotony of their inaction.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading The men straightened back from their dominoes; and when the little bell started to ring the third number of a station in their district, they rose with a smile.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading VI They were waiting so, one night, when the next water-front blaze came to relieve the monotony of their inaction.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading VI They were waiting so, one night, when the next water-front blaze came to relieve the monotony of their inaction.
a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
pilotverbUS /ˈpaɪlət/
operate an airplane
From this reading With the first stroke of the larger gong, the sitting-room was empty--Captain Keighley was shouting to the pilot, “All right there!
releaseverbUS /riˈliːs/
release, as from one's grip
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading Lieutenant Moore dropped his newspaper and looked up to count the strokes of the bell with an expression of relief.
relieveverbUS /rɪˈliːv/
provide physical relief, as from pain
From this reading VI They were waiting so, one night, when the next water-front blaze came to relieve the monotony of their inaction.
precisely, exactly
From this reading With the first stroke of the larger gong, the sitting-room was empty--Captain Keighley was shouting to the pilot, “All right there!
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading The men straightened back from their dominoes; and when the little bell started to ring the third number of a station in their district, they rose with a smile.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading The men straightened back from their dominoes; and when the little bell started to ring the third number of a station in their district, they rose with a smile.
encouragement in the form of cheers from spectators
From this reading With the first stroke of the larger gong, the sitting-room was empty--Captain Keighley was shouting to the pilot, “All right there!
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the first stroke of the larger gong, the sitting-room was empty--Captain Keighley was shouting to the pilot, “All right there!
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading The men straightened back from their dominoes; and when the little bell started to ring the third number of a station in their district, they rose with a smile.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading VI They were waiting so, one night, when the next water-front blaze came to relieve the monotony of their inaction.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The men straightened back from their dominoes; and when the little bell started to ring the third number of a station in their district, they rose with a smile.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading The men straightened back from their dominoes; and when the little bell started to ring the third number of a station in their district, they rose with a smile.
straightenedverbUS /ˈstreɪtənd/
past form of “straighten” — straighten up or out; make straight
From this reading The men straightened back from their dominoes; and when the little bell started to ring the third number of a station in their district, they rose with a smile.
(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
strokesnounUS /stroʊks/
plural of “stroke” — (sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading Lieutenant Moore dropped his newspaper and looked up to count the strokes of the bell with an expression of relief.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading VI They were waiting so, one night, when the next water-front blaze came to relieve the monotony of their inaction.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading VI They were waiting so, one night, when the next water-front blaze came to relieve the monotony of their inaction.
in or at that place or location
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading VI They were waiting so, one night, when the next water-front blaze came to relieve the monotony of their inaction.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading The men straightened back from their dominoes; and when the little bell started to ring the third number of a station in their district, they rose with a smile.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading VI They were waiting so, one night, when the next water-front blaze came to relieve the monotony of their inaction.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Lieutenant Moore dropped his newspaper and looked up to count the strokes of the bell with an expression of relief.
VInounUS /vaɪ/
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading VI They were waiting so, one night, when the next water-front blaze came to relieve the monotony of their inaction.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading VI They were waiting so, one night, when the next water-front blaze came to relieve the monotony of their inaction.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
water-front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading VI They were waiting so, one night, when the next water-front blaze came to relieve the monotony of their inaction.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading VI They were waiting so, one night, when the next water-front blaze came to relieve the monotony of their inaction.
at the time that
From this reading VI They were waiting so, one night, when the next water-front blaze came to relieve the monotony of their inaction.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At the first stroke of the jigger Keighley laid down his pen and brightened with the hope that there was a fire in his district to release him from his desk.
