used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Suddenly there fell a shadow across the threshold, and a big black-fellow entered--a stranger whom Sinkum Fung had never seen before.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But it was getting late, and Sinkum thought it about time to close the store and go to bed.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Suddenly there fell a shadow across the threshold, and a big black-fellow entered--a stranger whom Sinkum Fung had never seen before.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading His best trade was always in the evening, when the coolies' work was over, and they had time to do some shopping.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His best trade was always in the evening, when the coolies' work was over, and they had time to do some shopping.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading But it was getting late, and Sinkum thought it about time to close the store and go to bed.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Some nights before Sinkum Fung was sitting in his store waiting for customers.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading His best trade was always in the evening, when the coolies' work was over, and they had time to do some shopping.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Suddenly there fell a shadow across the threshold, and a big black-fellow entered--a stranger whom Sinkum Fung had never seen before.
black-fellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly there fell a shadow across the threshold, and a big black-fellow entered--a stranger whom Sinkum Fung had never seen before.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it was getting late, and Sinkum thought it about time to close the store and go to bed.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading But it was getting late, and Sinkum thought it about time to close the store and go to bed.
coolies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His best trade was always in the evening, when the coolies' work was over, and they had time to do some shopping.
customersnounUS /ˈkʌstəmərz/
plural of “customer” — someone who pays for goods or services
From this reading Some nights before Sinkum Fung was sitting in his store waiting for customers.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading His best trade was always in the evening, when the coolies' work was over, and they had time to do some shopping.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Suddenly there fell a shadow across the threshold, and a big black-fellow entered--a stranger whom Sinkum Fung had never seen before.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading His best trade was always in the evening, when the coolies' work was over, and they had time to do some shopping.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Suddenly there fell a shadow across the threshold, and a big black-fellow entered--a stranger whom Sinkum Fung had never seen before.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Some nights before Sinkum Fung was sitting in his store waiting for customers.
Fung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some nights before Sinkum Fung was sitting in his store waiting for customers.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading But it was getting late, and Sinkum thought it about time to close the store and go to bed.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But it was getting late, and Sinkum thought it about time to close the store and go to bed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His best trade was always in the evening, when the coolies' work was over, and they had time to do some shopping.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Some nights before Sinkum Fung was sitting in his store waiting for customers.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Some nights before Sinkum Fung was sitting in his store waiting for customers.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it was getting late, and Sinkum thought it about time to close the store and go to bed.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading But it was getting late, and Sinkum thought it about time to close the store and go to bed.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Suddenly there fell a shadow across the threshold, and a big black-fellow entered--a stranger whom Sinkum Fung had never seen before.
NIGHTMAREnounUS /ˈnaɪt.mɛr/
A terrifying or distressing dream.
From this reading PETER'S NIGHTMARE.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading Some nights before Sinkum Fung was sitting in his store waiting for customers.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading His best trade was always in the evening, when the coolies' work was over, and they had time to do some shopping.
PETER'SnounUS /ˈpiːtərz/
possessive form of “peter” — disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading PETER'S NIGHTMARE.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Suddenly there fell a shadow across the threshold, and a big black-fellow entered--a stranger whom Sinkum Fung had never seen before.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Suddenly there fell a shadow across the threshold, and a big black-fellow entered--a stranger whom Sinkum Fung had never seen before.
shoppingnounUS /ˈʃɑːpɪŋ/
searching for or buying goods or services
From this reading His best trade was always in the evening, when the coolies' work was over, and they had time to do some shopping.
Sinkum
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some nights before Sinkum Fung was sitting in his store waiting for customers.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Some nights before Sinkum Fung was sitting in his store waiting for customers.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some nights before Sinkum Fung was sitting in his store waiting for customers.
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading Some nights before Sinkum Fung was sitting in his store waiting for customers.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading Suddenly there fell a shadow across the threshold, and a big black-fellow entered--a stranger whom Sinkum Fung had never seen before.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly there fell a shadow across the threshold, and a big black-fellow entered--a stranger whom Sinkum Fung had never seen before.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His best trade was always in the evening, when the coolies' work was over, and they had time to do some shopping.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Suddenly there fell a shadow across the threshold, and a big black-fellow entered--a stranger whom Sinkum Fung had never seen before.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His best trade was always in the evening, when the coolies' work was over, and they had time to do some shopping.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But it was getting late, and Sinkum thought it about time to close the store and go to bed.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading Suddenly there fell a shadow across the threshold, and a big black-fellow entered--a stranger whom Sinkum Fung had never seen before.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading His best trade was always in the evening, when the coolies' work was over, and they had time to do some shopping.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His best trade was always in the evening, when the coolies' work was over, and they had time to do some shopping.
the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services
From this reading His best trade was always in the evening, when the coolies' work was over, and they had time to do some shopping.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Some nights before Sinkum Fung was sitting in his store waiting for customers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Some nights before Sinkum Fung was sitting in his store waiting for customers.
at the time that
From this reading His best trade was always in the evening, when the coolies' work was over, and they had time to do some shopping.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Suddenly there fell a shadow across the threshold, and a big black-fellow entered--a stranger whom Sinkum Fung had never seen before.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading His best trade was always in the evening, when the coolies' work was over, and they had time to do some shopping.
