used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE SERENADE A subject that never failed to arouse the sarcasm and the ire of Fairy was that of the Slaughter-house Quartette.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SERENADE A subject that never failed to arouse the sarcasm and the ire of Fairy was that of the Slaughter-house Quartette.
arouseverbUS /ərˈaʊz/
call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
From this reading THE SERENADE A subject that never failed to arouse the sarcasm and the ire of Fairy was that of the Slaughter-house Quartette.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
BowerynounUS /ˈbaʊəri/
a street in Manhattan noted for cheap hotels frequented by homeless derelicts
From this reading They were the slum element, the Bowery of Mount Mark, Iowa.
burstsnounUS /bɜːrsts/
plural of “burst” — the act of exploding or bursting
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
churchesnounUS /ˈtʃɜːrtʃɪz/
plural of “church” — one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading The churches knew them not.
communitynounUS /kəˈmjuːnəti/
a group of people living in a particular local area
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
disreputableadjectiveUS /dɪsˈrepjətəbəl/
lacking respectability in character or behavior or appearance
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
elementnounUS /ˈeləmənt/
an abstract part of something
From this reading They were the slum element, the Bowery of Mount Mark, Iowa.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading THE SERENADE A subject that never failed to arouse the sarcasm and the ire of Fairy was that of the Slaughter-house Quartette.
a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading THE SERENADE A subject that never failed to arouse the sarcasm and the ire of Fairy was that of the Slaughter-house Quartette.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
frequentverbUS /ˈfriːkwənt/
do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
intoxicationnounUS /ˌɪntɑːksəˈkeɪʃən/
the physiological state produced by a poison or other toxic substance
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
IowanounUS /ˈaɪəwə/
a member of the Siouan people formerly living in Iowa and Minnesota and Missouri
From this reading They were the slum element, the Bowery of Mount Mark, Iowa.
irenounUS /aɪr/
a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
From this reading THE SERENADE A subject that never failed to arouse the sarcasm and the ire of Fairy was that of the Slaughter-house Quartette.
jailnounUS /dʒeɪl/
a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
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 The churches knew them not.
leered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They slouched, they smoked, they lounged, they leered.
localadjectiveUS /ˈloʊkəl/
relating to or applicable to or concerned with the administration of a city or town or district rather than a larger area
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
lounged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They slouched, they smoked, they lounged, they leered.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading They were the slum element, the Bowery of Mount Mark, Iowa.
the force of workers available
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
attach to a support
From this reading They were the slum element, the Bowery of Mount Mark, Iowa.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading THE SERENADE A subject that never failed to arouse the sarcasm and the ire of Fairy was that of the Slaughter-house Quartette.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The churches knew them not.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SERENADE A subject that never failed to arouse the sarcasm and the ire of Fairy was that of the Slaughter-house Quartette.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
parsonagenounUS /ˈpɑːrsənɪdʒ/
an official residence provided by a church for its parson or vicar or rector
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
Quartettenoun
four performers or singers who perform together
From this reading THE SERENADE A subject that never failed to arouse the sarcasm and the ire of Fairy was that of the Slaughter-house Quartette.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
sarcasmnounUS /ˈsɑːrkæzəm/
witty language used to convey insults or scorn
From this reading THE SERENADE A subject that never failed to arouse the sarcasm and the ire of Fairy was that of the Slaughter-house Quartette.
SERENADEnounUS /ˌserəˈneɪd/
a musical composition in several movements; has no fixed form
From this reading THE SERENADE A subject that never failed to arouse the sarcasm and the ire of Fairy was that of the Slaughter-house Quartette.
Slaughter-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SERENADE A subject that never failed to arouse the sarcasm and the ire of Fairy was that of the Slaughter-house Quartette.
slouched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They slouched, they smoked, they lounged, they leered.
slumnounUS /slʌm/
a district of a city marked by poverty and inferior living conditions
From this reading They were the slum element, the Bowery of Mount Mark, Iowa.
smokedadjectiveUS /smoʊkt/
(used especially of meats and fish) dried and cured by hanging in wood smoke
From this reading They slouched, they smoked, they lounged, they leered.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading THE SERENADE A subject that never failed to arouse the sarcasm and the ire of Fairy was that of the Slaughter-house Quartette.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE SERENADE A subject that never failed to arouse the sarcasm and the ire of Fairy was that of the Slaughter-house Quartette.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SERENADE A subject that never failed to arouse the sarcasm and the ire of Fairy was that of the Slaughter-house Quartette.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The churches knew them not.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They slouched, they smoked, they lounged, they leered.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE SERENADE A subject that never failed to arouse the sarcasm and the ire of Fairy was that of the Slaughter-house Quartette.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE SERENADE A subject that never failed to arouse the sarcasm and the ire of Fairy was that of the Slaughter-house Quartette.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were the slum element, the Bowery of Mount Mark, Iowa.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading This was composed of four young men--men quite outside the pale as far as the parsonage was concerned--the disreputable characters of the community, familiar in the local jail for frequent bursts of intoxication.
