used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On the pavements and walls the sunlight lay like white-hot gold and the shadows cast by the awnings of Bessire's department store were sharply chiselled as by a stencil.
(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 High winds during the night had chased all clouds to remote quarters and had with the morning suddenly gone, leaving the city to the entire mercy of the sun.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading High winds during the night had chased all clouds to remote quarters and had with the morning suddenly gone, leaving the city to the entire mercy of the sun.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading On the pavements and walls the sunlight lay like white-hot gold and the shadows cast by the awnings of Bessire's department store were sharply chiselled as by a stencil.
the month following July and preceding September
From this reading It was August and very dry and in the corners of buildings huddled little heaps of dust and elusive trash, withered and powdery.
awnings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the pavements and walls the sunlight lay like white-hot gold and the shadows cast by the awnings of Bessire's department store were sharply chiselled as by a stencil.
Bessire's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the pavements and walls the sunlight lay like white-hot gold and the shadows cast by the awnings of Bessire's department store were sharply chiselled as by a stencil.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading Mary Louise paused for a moment in their shelter and drew breath.
buildingsnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋz/
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading It was August and very dry and in the corners of buildings huddled little heaps of dust and elusive trash, withered and powdery.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading On the pavements and walls the sunlight lay like white-hot gold and the shadows cast by the awnings of Bessire's department store were sharply chiselled as by a stencil.
put or send forth
From this reading On the pavements and walls the sunlight lay like white-hot gold and the shadows cast by the awnings of Bessire's department store were sharply chiselled as by a stencil.
chasednounUS /tʃeɪst/
a person who is being chased
From this reading High winds during the night had chased all clouds to remote quarters and had with the morning suddenly gone, leaving the city to the entire mercy of the sun.
chiselled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the pavements and walls the sunlight lay like white-hot gold and the shadows cast by the awnings of Bessire's department store were sharply chiselled as by a stencil.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading High winds during the night had chased all clouds to remote quarters and had with the morning suddenly gone, leaving the city to the entire mercy of the sun.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading High winds during the night had chased all clouds to remote quarters and had with the morning suddenly gone, leaving the city to the entire mercy of the sun.
cornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/
plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area
From this reading It was August and very dry and in the corners of buildings huddled little heaps of dust and elusive trash, withered and powdery.
dazzlingadjectiveUS /ˈdæzəlɪŋ/
amazingly impressive; suggestive of the flashing of lightning
From this reading The sunlight was dazzling white.
departmentnounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtmənt/
a specialized division of a large organization
From this reading On the pavements and walls the sunlight lay like white-hot gold and the shadows cast by the awnings of Bessire's department store were sharply chiselled as by a stencil.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading Mary Louise paused for a moment in their shelter and drew breath.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading It was August and very dry and in the corners of buildings huddled little heaps of dust and elusive trash, withered and powdery.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading High winds during the night had chased all clouds to remote quarters and had with the morning suddenly gone, leaving the city to the entire mercy of the sun.
remove the dust from
From this reading It was August and very dry and in the corners of buildings huddled little heaps of dust and elusive trash, withered and powdery.
elusiveadjectiveUS /ɪˈluːsɪv/
difficult to describe
From this reading It was August and very dry and in the corners of buildings huddled little heaps of dust and elusive trash, withered and powdery.
constituting the full quantity or extent; complete
From this reading High winds during the night had chased all clouds to remote quarters and had with the morning suddenly gone, leaving the city to the entire mercy of the sun.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mary Louise paused for a moment in their shelter and drew breath.
coins made of gold
From this reading On the pavements and walls the sunlight lay like white-hot gold and the shadows cast by the awnings of Bessire's department store were sharply chiselled as by a stencil.
destroyed or killed
From this reading High winds during the night had chased all clouds to remote quarters and had with the morning suddenly gone, leaving the city to the entire mercy of the sun.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading High winds during the night had chased all clouds to remote quarters and had with the morning suddenly gone, leaving the city to the entire mercy of the sun.
heapsnounUS /hiːps/
a large number or amount
From this reading It was August and very dry and in the corners of buildings huddled little heaps of dust and elusive trash, withered and powdery.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading High winds during the night had chased all clouds to remote quarters and had with the morning suddenly gone, leaving the city to the entire mercy of the sun.
huddledadjectiveUS /ˈhʌdəld/
crowded or massed together
From this reading It was August and very dry and in the corners of buildings huddled little heaps of dust and elusive trash, withered and powdery.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was August and very dry and in the corners of buildings huddled little heaps of dust and elusive trash, withered and powdery.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was August and very dry and in the corners of buildings huddled little heaps of dust and elusive trash, withered and powdery.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading On the pavements and walls the sunlight lay like white-hot gold and the shadows cast by the awnings of Bessire's department store were sharply chiselled as by a stencil.
the act of departing
From this reading High winds during the night had chased all clouds to remote quarters and had with the morning suddenly gone, leaving the city to the entire mercy of the sun.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading On the pavements and walls the sunlight lay like white-hot gold and the shadows cast by the awnings of Bessire's department store were sharply chiselled as by a stencil.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was August and very dry and in the corners of buildings huddled little heaps of dust and elusive trash, withered and powdery.
Louise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mary Louise paused for a moment in their shelter and drew breath.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading Mary Louise paused for a moment in their shelter and drew breath.
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
From this reading High winds during the night had chased all clouds to remote quarters and had with the morning suddenly gone, leaving the city to the entire mercy of the sun.
a particular point in time
From this reading Mary Louise paused for a moment in their shelter and drew breath.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading High winds during the night had chased all clouds to remote quarters and had with the morning suddenly gone, leaving the city to the entire mercy of the sun.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading High winds during the night had chased all clouds to remote quarters and had with the morning suddenly gone, leaving the city to the entire mercy of the sun.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading High winds during the night had chased all clouds to remote quarters and had with the morning suddenly gone, leaving the city to the entire mercy of the sun.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the pavements and walls the sunlight lay like white-hot gold and the shadows cast by the awnings of Bessire's department store were sharply chiselled as by a stencil.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Mary Louise paused for a moment in their shelter and drew breath.
pavementsnounUS /ˈpeɪvmənts/
plural of “pavement” — the paved surface of a thoroughfare
From this reading On the pavements and walls the sunlight lay like white-hot gold and the shadows cast by the awnings of Bessire's department store were sharply chiselled as by a stencil.
powderyadjectiveUS /ˈpaʊdəri/
consisting of fine particles
From this reading It was August and very dry and in the corners of buildings huddled little heaps of dust and elusive trash, withered and powdery.
housing available for people to live in
From this reading High winds during the night had chased all clouds to remote quarters and had with the morning suddenly gone, leaving the city to the entire mercy of the sun.
remoteadjectiveUS /rɪˈmoʊt/
located far away spatially
From this reading High winds during the night had chased all clouds to remote quarters and had with the morning suddenly gone, leaving the city to the entire mercy of the sun.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading On the pavements and walls the sunlight lay like white-hot gold and the shadows cast by the awnings of Bessire's department store were sharply chiselled as by a stencil.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading On the pavements and walls the sunlight lay like white-hot gold and the shadows cast by the awnings of Bessire's department store were sharply chiselled as by a stencil.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading Mary Louise paused for a moment in their shelter and drew breath.
stencilnounUS /ˈstensɪl/
a sheet of material (metal, plastic, cardboard, waxed paper, silk, etc.) that has been perforated with a pattern (printing or a design); ink or paint can pass through the perforations to create the printed pattern on the surface below
From this reading On the pavements and walls the sunlight lay like white-hot gold and the shadows cast by the awnings of Bessire's department store were sharply chiselled as by a stencil.
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading On the pavements and walls the sunlight lay like white-hot gold and the shadows cast by the awnings of Bessire's department store were sharply chiselled as by a stencil.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading High winds during the night had chased all clouds to remote quarters and had with the morning suddenly gone, leaving the city to the entire mercy of the sun.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading High winds during the night had chased all clouds to remote quarters and had with the morning suddenly gone, leaving the city to the entire mercy of the sun.
the rays of the sun
From this reading The sunlight was dazzling white.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sunlight was dazzling white.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Mary Louise paused for a moment in their shelter and drew breath.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading High winds during the night had chased all clouds to remote quarters and had with the morning suddenly gone, leaving the city to the entire mercy of the sun.
trashnounUS /træʃ/
worthless material that is to be disposed of
From this reading It was August and very dry and in the corners of buildings huddled little heaps of dust and elusive trash, withered and powdery.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was August and very dry and in the corners of buildings huddled little heaps of dust and elusive trash, withered and powdery.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading On the pavements and walls the sunlight lay like white-hot gold and the shadows cast by the awnings of Bessire's department store were sharply chiselled as by a stencil.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sunlight was dazzling white.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On the pavements and walls the sunlight lay like white-hot gold and the shadows cast by the awnings of Bessire's department store were sharply chiselled as by a stencil.
a Caucasian
From this reading The sunlight was dazzling white.
white-hotadjective
intensely zealous or fervid
From this reading On the pavements and walls the sunlight lay like white-hot gold and the shadows cast by the awnings of Bessire's department store were sharply chiselled as by a stencil.
plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading High winds during the night had chased all clouds to remote quarters and had with the morning suddenly gone, leaving the city to the entire mercy of the sun.
in the company of; together with
From this reading High winds during the night had chased all clouds to remote quarters and had with the morning suddenly gone, leaving the city to the entire mercy of the sun.
witheredadjectiveUS /ˈwɪðərd/
lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness
From this reading It was August and very dry and in the corners of buildings huddled little heaps of dust and elusive trash, withered and powdery.
