used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Not a single lock was in order, whether in the bureau or the secretary.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The veneer was almost entirely off the bedstead.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The most sumptuous object was an enormous China stove, which occupied almost one-half of the hall-dining-room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The rug had become a nameless rag; and the broken springs of the sofa, cutting through the threadbare stuff, stood up threateningly like knife-blades.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It could not be used to make a fire; for it had no pipe.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The rug had become a nameless rag; and the broken springs of the sofa, cutting through the threadbare stuff, stood up threateningly like knife-blades.
bedsteadnoun
the framework of a bed
From this reading The veneer was almost entirely off the bedstead.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading The rug had become a nameless rag; and the broken springs of the sofa, cutting through the threadbare stuff, stood up threateningly like knife-blades.
bureaunounUS /ˈbjʊroʊ/
an administrative unit of government
From this reading Not a single lock was in order, whether in the bureau or the secretary.
ChinanounUS /ˈtʃaɪnə/
a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world
From this reading The most sumptuous object was an enormous China stove, which occupied almost one-half of the hall-dining-room.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It could not be used to make a fire; for it had no pipe.
cuttingnounUS /ˈkʌtɪŋ/
the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading The rug had become a nameless rag; and the broken springs of the sofa, cutting through the threadbare stuff, stood up threateningly like knife-blades.
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading The most sumptuous object was an enormous China stove, which occupied almost one-half of the hall-dining-room.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The veneer was almost entirely off the bedstead.
start firing a weapon
From this reading It could not be used to make a fire; for it had no pipe.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It could not be used to make a fire; for it had no pipe.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The rug had become a nameless rag; and the broken springs of the sofa, cutting through the threadbare stuff, stood up threateningly like knife-blades.
hall-dining-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The most sumptuous object was an enormous China stove, which occupied almost one-half of the hall-dining-room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Not a single lock was in order, whether in the bureau or the secretary.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It could not be used to make a fire; for it had no pipe.
knife-blades
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rug had become a nameless rag; and the broken springs of the sofa, cutting through the threadbare stuff, stood up threateningly like knife-blades.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The rug had become a nameless rag; and the broken springs of the sofa, cutting through the threadbare stuff, stood up threateningly like knife-blades.
fasten with a lock
From this reading Not a single lock was in order, whether in the bureau or the secretary.
engage in
From this reading It could not be used to make a fire; for it had no pipe.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The most sumptuous object was an enormous China stove, which occupied almost one-half of the hall-dining-room.
namelessadjectiveUS /ˈneɪm.ləs/
Having no name, or having a name that is kept secret or unknown.
From this reading The rug had become a nameless rag; and the broken springs of the sofa, cutting through the threadbare stuff, stood up threateningly like knife-blades.
not any; not one
From this reading It could not be used to make a fire; for it had no pipe.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a single lock was in order, whether in the bureau or the secretary.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading The most sumptuous object was an enormous China stove, which occupied almost one-half of the hall-dining-room.
held or filled or in use
From this reading The most sumptuous object was an enormous China stove, which occupied almost one-half of the hall-dining-room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The rug had become a nameless rag; and the broken springs of the sofa, cutting through the threadbare stuff, stood up threateningly like knife-blades.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The veneer was almost entirely off the bedstead.
one-halfnoun
one of two equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading The most sumptuous object was an enormous China stove, which occupied almost one-half of the hall-dining-room.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Not a single lock was in order, whether in the bureau or the secretary.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Not a single lock was in order, whether in the bureau or the secretary.
a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading It could not be used to make a fire; for it had no pipe.
ragnounUS /ræɡ/
a small piece of cloth or paper
From this reading The rug had become a nameless rag; and the broken springs of the sofa, cutting through the threadbare stuff, stood up threateningly like knife-blades.
rugnounUS /rʌɡ/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading The rug had become a nameless rag; and the broken springs of the sofa, cutting through the threadbare stuff, stood up threateningly like knife-blades.
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading Not a single lock was in order, whether in the bureau or the secretary.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Not a single lock was in order, whether in the bureau or the secretary.
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading The rug had become a nameless rag; and the broken springs of the sofa, cutting through the threadbare stuff, stood up threateningly like knife-blades.
springsnounUS /sprɪŋz/
plural of “spring” — the season of growth
From this reading The rug had become a nameless rag; and the broken springs of the sofa, cutting through the threadbare stuff, stood up threateningly like knife-blades.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The rug had become a nameless rag; and the broken springs of the sofa, cutting through the threadbare stuff, stood up threateningly like knife-blades.
stovenounUS /stoʊv/
a kitchen appliance used for cooking food
From this reading The most sumptuous object was an enormous China stove, which occupied almost one-half of the hall-dining-room.
the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
From this reading The rug had become a nameless rag; and the broken springs of the sofa, cutting through the threadbare stuff, stood up threateningly like knife-blades.
sumptuousadjectiveUS /ˈsʌmptʃwəs/
ostentatiously rich and superior in quality
From this reading The most sumptuous object was an enormous China stove, which occupied almost one-half of the hall-dining-room.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The veneer was almost entirely off the bedstead.
threadbareadjectiveUS /ˈθredber/
repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
From this reading The rug had become a nameless rag; and the broken springs of the sofa, cutting through the threadbare stuff, stood up threateningly like knife-blades.
threateninglyadverbUS /ˈθretənɪŋli/
in a menacing manner
From this reading The rug had become a nameless rag; and the broken springs of the sofa, cutting through the threadbare stuff, stood up threateningly like knife-blades.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The rug had become a nameless rag; and the broken springs of the sofa, cutting through the threadbare stuff, stood up threateningly like knife-blades.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It could not be used to make a fire; for it had no pipe.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The rug had become a nameless rag; and the broken springs of the sofa, cutting through the threadbare stuff, stood up threateningly like knife-blades.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading It could not be used to make a fire; for it had no pipe.
veneernounUS /vəˈnɪr/
coating consisting of a thin layer of superior wood glued to a base of inferior wood
From this reading The veneer was almost entirely off the bedstead.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The veneer was almost entirely off the bedstead.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Not a single lock was in order, whether in the bureau or the secretary.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The most sumptuous object was an enormous China stove, which occupied almost one-half of the hall-dining-room.
