used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One of them was a young man whose face was evidently heated with fever; the other was an old man, who never left off groaning.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Hearing the visitors enter they all jumped down, and, clinking their chains, placed themselves beside their berths, while their half-shaven heads were distinctly set off against the gloom of the prison.
(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 Hearing the visitors enter they all jumped down, and, clinking their chains, placed themselves beside their berths, while their half-shaven heads were distinctly set off against the gloom of the prison.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading One of them was a young man whose face was evidently heated with fever; the other was an old man, who never left off groaning.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Only two of the prisoners remained at their places.
berthsnounUS /bɜːrθs/
plural of “berth” — a job in an organization
From this reading Entering the first room in that building they found the prisoners stretched on their berths, which occupied the middle of the room.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Hearing the visitors enter they all jumped down, and, clinking their chains, placed themselves beside their berths, while their half-shaven heads were distinctly set off against the gloom of the prison.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
chainsnounUS /tʃeɪnz/
metal shackles; for hands or legs
From this reading Hearing the visitors enter they all jumped down, and, clinking their chains, placed themselves beside their berths, while their half-shaven heads were distinctly set off against the gloom of the prison.
clinkingadjective
like the light sharp ringing sound of glasses being tapped
From this reading Hearing the visitors enter they all jumped down, and, clinking their chains, placed themselves beside their berths, while their half-shaven heads were distinctly set off against the gloom of the prison.
condemnedverbUS /kənˈdemd/
past form of “condemn” — express strong disapproval of
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
confinedadjectiveUS /kənˈfaɪnd/
not invading healthy tissue
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
corridorsnounUS /ˈkɔːrɪdərz/
plural of “corridor” — an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading Hearing the visitors enter they all jumped down, and, clinking their chains, placed themselves beside their berths, while their half-shaven heads were distinctly set off against the gloom of the prison.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Hearing the visitors enter they all jumped down, and, clinking their chains, placed themselves beside their berths, while their half-shaven heads were distinctly set off against the gloom of the prison.
to come or go into
From this reading Hearing the visitors enter they all jumped down, and, clinking their chains, placed themselves beside their berths, while their half-shaven heads were distinctly set off against the gloom of the prison.
a movement into or inward
From this reading Entering the first room in that building they found the prisoners stretched on their berths, which occupied the middle of the room.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading One of them was a young man whose face was evidently heated with fever; the other was an old man, who never left off groaning.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading One of them was a young man whose face was evidently heated with fever; the other was an old man, who never left off groaning.
a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection
From this reading One of them was a young man whose face was evidently heated with fever; the other was an old man, who never left off groaning.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
set up or found
From this reading Entering the first room in that building they found the prisoners stretched on their berths, which occupied the middle of the room.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading Hearing the visitors enter they all jumped down, and, clinking their chains, placed themselves beside their berths, while their half-shaven heads were distinctly set off against the gloom of the prison.
groaningverbUS /ˈɡroʊnɪŋ/
-ing form of “groan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
From this reading One of them was a young man whose face was evidently heated with fever; the other was an old man, who never left off groaning.
half-shaven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hearing the visitors enter they all jumped down, and, clinking their chains, placed themselves beside their berths, while their half-shaven heads were distinctly set off against the gloom of the prison.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Hearing the visitors enter they all jumped down, and, clinking their chains, placed themselves beside their berths, while their half-shaven heads were distinctly set off against the gloom of the prison.
(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
From this reading Hearing the visitors enter they all jumped down, and, clinking their chains, placed themselves beside their berths, while their half-shaven heads were distinctly set off against the gloom of the prison.
heatedadjectiveUS /ˈhiːtəd/
made warm or hot (“het” is a dialectal variant of “heated”)
From this reading One of them was a young man whose face was evidently heated with fever; the other was an old man, who never left off groaning.
ill-smellingadjective
having an unpleasant smell
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
past form of “jump” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Hearing the visitors enter they all jumped down, and, clinking their chains, placed themselves beside their berths, while their half-shaven heads were distinctly set off against the gloom of the prison.
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading One of them was a young man whose face was evidently heated with fever; the other was an old man, who never left off groaning.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading One of them was a young man whose face was evidently heated with fever; the other was an old man, who never left off groaning.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading Entering the first room in that building they found the prisoners stretched on their berths, which occupied the middle of the room.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading One of them was a young man whose face was evidently heated with fever; the other was an old man, who never left off groaning.
held or filled or in use
From this reading Entering the first room in that building they found the prisoners stretched on their berths, which occupied the middle of the room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Hearing the visitors enter they all jumped down, and, clinking their chains, placed themselves beside their berths, while their half-shaven heads were distinctly set off against the gloom of the prison.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading One of them was a young man whose face was evidently heated with fever; the other was an old man, who never left off groaning.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Entering the first room in that building they found the prisoners stretched on their berths, which occupied the middle of the room.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of them was a young man whose face was evidently heated with fever; the other was an old man, who never left off groaning.
and nothing more
From this reading Only two of the prisoners remained at their places.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading One of them was a young man whose face was evidently heated with fever; the other was an old man, who never left off groaning.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading Hearing the visitors enter they all jumped down, and, clinking their chains, placed themselves beside their berths, while their half-shaven heads were distinctly set off against the gloom of the prison.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Only two of the prisoners remained at their places.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading Entering the first room in that building they found the prisoners stretched on their berths, which occupied the middle of the room.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Only two of the prisoners remained at their places.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Entering the first room in that building they found the prisoners stretched on their berths, which occupied the middle of the room.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Hearing the visitors enter they all jumped down, and, clinking their chains, placed themselves beside their berths, while their half-shaven heads were distinctly set off against the gloom of the prison.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading Entering the first room in that building they found the prisoners stretched on their berths, which occupied the middle of the room.
superintendentnounUS /ˌsuːpərənˈtendənt/
a person who directs and manages an organization
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Entering the first room in that building they found the prisoners stretched on their berths, which occupied the middle of the room.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Entering the first room in that building they found the prisoners stretched on their berths, which occupied the middle of the room.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading One of them was a young man whose face was evidently heated with fever; the other was an old man, who never left off groaning.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Hearing the visitors enter they all jumped down, and, clinking their chains, placed themselves beside their berths, while their half-shaven heads were distinctly set off against the gloom of the prison.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Entering the first room in that building they found the prisoners stretched on their berths, which occupied the middle of the room.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Only two of the prisoners remained at their places.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading Hearing the visitors enter they all jumped down, and, clinking their chains, placed themselves beside their berths, while their half-shaven heads were distinctly set off against the gloom of the prison.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One of them was a young man whose face was evidently heated with fever; the other was an old man, who never left off groaning.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Passing through the hall and the ill-smelling corridors, the superintendent passed into the first building of the prison in which those condemned to hard labor were confined.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Hearing the visitors enter they all jumped down, and, clinking their chains, placed themselves beside their berths, while their half-shaven heads were distinctly set off against the gloom of the prison.
which person or people
From this reading One of them was a young man whose face was evidently heated with fever; the other was an old man, who never left off groaning.
belonging to which person
From this reading One of them was a young man whose face was evidently heated with fever; the other was an old man, who never left off groaning.
in the company of; together with
From this reading One of them was a young man whose face was evidently heated with fever; the other was an old man, who never left off groaning.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading One of them was a young man whose face was evidently heated with fever; the other was an old man, who never left off groaning.
