used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The room into which Harry entered was possibly twenty feet square, and had rather a desolate look.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At one end was an elevated desk, with a large ledger lying upon it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The room into which Harry entered was possibly twenty feet square, and had rather a desolate look.
arm-chairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were two arm-chairs in the office, on one of which a man of forty-five sat smoking a cigar.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At one end was an elevated desk, with a large ledger lying upon it.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading HOW THEY DO BUSINESS IN THE CITY.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was poorly lighted, having but one window, looking upon a court-yard.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading There were two arm-chairs in the office, on one of which a man of forty-five sat smoking a cigar.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading HOW THEY DO BUSINESS IN THE CITY.
court-yard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was poorly lighted, having but one window, looking upon a court-yard.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading At one end was an elevated desk, with a large ledger lying upon it.
desolateadjectiveUS /ˈdesələt/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading The room into which Harry entered was possibly twenty feet square, and had rather a desolate look.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading HOW THEY DO BUSINESS IN THE CITY.
elevatedadjectiveUS /ˈeləveɪtɪd/
raised above the ground
From this reading At one end was an elevated desk, with a large ledger lying upon it.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading At one end was an elevated desk, with a large ledger lying upon it.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading The room into which Harry entered was possibly twenty feet square, and had rather a desolate look.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The room into which Harry entered was possibly twenty feet square, and had rather a desolate look.
forty-fivenounUS /ˈfɔːrtifaɪv/
a .45-caliber pistol
From this reading There were two arm-chairs in the office, on one of which a man of forty-five sat smoking a cigar.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The room into which Harry entered was possibly twenty feet square, and had rather a desolate look.
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading The room into which Harry entered was possibly twenty feet square, and had rather a desolate look.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading It was poorly lighted, having but one window, looking upon a court-yard.
HOW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW THEY DO BUSINESS IN THE CITY.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading HOW THEY DO BUSINESS IN THE CITY.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The room into which Harry entered was possibly twenty feet square, and had rather a desolate look.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was poorly lighted, having but one window, looking upon a court-yard.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading At one end was an elevated desk, with a large ledger lying upon it.
ledgernounUS /ˈledʒər/
a record in which commercial accounts are recorded
From this reading At one end was an elevated desk, with a large ledger lying upon it.
set afire or burning
From this reading It was poorly lighted, having but one window, looking upon a court-yard.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The room into which Harry entered was possibly twenty feet square, and had rather a desolate look.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading It was poorly lighted, having but one window, looking upon a court-yard.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading At one end was an elevated desk, with a large ledger lying upon it.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading There were two arm-chairs in the office, on one of which a man of forty-five sat smoking a cigar.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There were two arm-chairs in the office, on one of which a man of forty-five sat smoking a cigar.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading There were two arm-chairs in the office, on one of which a man of forty-five sat smoking a cigar.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There were two arm-chairs in the office, on one of which a man of forty-five sat smoking a cigar.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was poorly lighted, having but one window, looking upon a court-yard.
poorlyadverbUS /ˈpuːrli/
(“ill” is often used as a combining form) in a poor or improper or unsatisfactory manner; not well
From this reading It was poorly lighted, having but one window, looking upon a court-yard.
by chance
From this reading The room into which Harry entered was possibly twenty feet square, and had rather a desolate look.
on the contrary
From this reading The room into which Harry entered was possibly twenty feet square, and had rather a desolate look.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The room into which Harry entered was possibly twenty feet square, and had rather a desolate look.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading There were two arm-chairs in the office, on one of which a man of forty-five sat smoking a cigar.
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading There were two arm-chairs in the office, on one of which a man of forty-five sat smoking a cigar.
make square
From this reading The room into which Harry entered was possibly twenty feet square, and had rather a desolate look.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HOW THEY DO BUSINESS IN THE CITY.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were two arm-chairs in the office, on one of which a man of forty-five sat smoking a cigar.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading HOW THEY DO BUSINESS IN THE CITY.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading The room into which Harry entered was possibly twenty feet square, and had rather a desolate look.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There were two arm-chairs in the office, on one of which a man of forty-five sat smoking a cigar.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was poorly lighted, having but one window, looking upon a court-yard.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The room into which Harry entered was possibly twenty feet square, and had rather a desolate look.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were two arm-chairs in the office, on one of which a man of forty-five sat smoking a cigar.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The room into which Harry entered was possibly twenty feet square, and had rather a desolate look.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading It was poorly lighted, having but one window, looking upon a court-yard.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At one end was an elevated desk, with a large ledger lying upon it.
