used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE working of the powerful machine had been observed from a distance.
(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 "Saws, all of them."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As the little party drew nearer, they could see more plainly the heaps of mud and wet dirt left in the wake of the steam shovel.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the little party drew nearer, they could see more plainly the heaps of mud and wet dirt left in the wake of the steam shovel.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE working of the powerful machine had been observed from a distance.
plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Five gigantic negroes, with shovels and hoes, leveled off the piles, working slowly and languidly over the task, their legs wet to the knees and their bodies plastered with mud.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As the little party drew nearer, they could see more plainly the heaps of mud and wet dirt left in the wake of the steam shovel.
dirtnounUS /dɜːrt/
the part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rock
From this reading As the little party drew nearer, they could see more plainly the heaps of mud and wet dirt left in the wake of the steam shovel.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading THE working of the powerful machine had been observed from a distance.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading As the little party drew nearer, they could see more plainly the heaps of mud and wet dirt left in the wake of the steam shovel.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Five gigantic negroes, with shovels and hoes, leveled off the piles, working slowly and languidly over the task, their legs wet to the knees and their bodies plastered with mud.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE working of the powerful machine had been observed from a distance.
giganticadjectiveUS /dʒaɪˈɡæntɪk/
so exceedingly large or extensive as to suggest a giant or mammoth
From this reading Five gigantic negroes, with shovels and hoes, leveled off the piles, working slowly and languidly over the task, their legs wet to the knees and their bodies plastered with mud.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE working of the powerful machine had been observed from a distance.
heapsnounUS /hiːps/
a large number or amount
From this reading As the little party drew nearer, they could see more plainly the heaps of mud and wet dirt left in the wake of the steam shovel.
hoesnounUS /hoʊz/
plural of “hoe” — a tool with a flat blade attached at right angles to a long handle
From this reading Five gigantic negroes, with shovels and hoes, leveled off the piles, working slowly and languidly over the task, their legs wet to the knees and their bodies plastered with mud.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As the little party drew nearer, they could see more plainly the heaps of mud and wet dirt left in the wake of the steam shovel.
INVESTIGATINGnounUS /ˌɪnˈvestəɡeɪtɪŋ/
the work of inquiring into something thoroughly and systematically
From this reading INVESTIGATING.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Five gigantic negroes, with shovels and hoes, leveled off the piles, working slowly and languidly over the task, their legs wet to the knees and their bodies plastered with mud.
languidlyadverb
in a languid and lethargic manner
From this reading Five gigantic negroes, with shovels and hoes, leveled off the piles, working slowly and languidly over the task, their legs wet to the knees and their bodies plastered with mud.
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 As the little party drew nearer, they could see more plainly the heaps of mud and wet dirt left in the wake of the steam shovel.
staying power
From this reading Five gigantic negroes, with shovels and hoes, leveled off the piles, working slowly and languidly over the task, their legs wet to the knees and their bodies plastered with mud.
leveledverbUS /ˈlevəld/
past form of “level” — aim at
From this reading Five gigantic negroes, with shovels and hoes, leveled off the piles, working slowly and languidly over the task, their legs wet to the knees and their bodies plastered with mud.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading As the little party drew nearer, they could see more plainly the heaps of mud and wet dirt left in the wake of the steam shovel.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading THE working of the powerful machine had been observed from a distance.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading As the little party drew nearer, they could see more plainly the heaps of mud and wet dirt left in the wake of the steam shovel.
water soaked soil; soft wet earth
From this reading As the little party drew nearer, they could see more plainly the heaps of mud and wet dirt left in the wake of the steam shovel.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading As the little party drew nearer, they could see more plainly the heaps of mud and wet dirt left in the wake of the steam shovel.
negroesnounUS /ˈniːɡroʊz/
plural of “negro” — a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today
From this reading Five gigantic negroes, with shovels and hoes, leveled off the piles, working slowly and languidly over the task, their legs wet to the knees and their bodies plastered with mud.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading THE working of the powerful machine had been observed from a distance.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE working of the powerful machine had been observed from a distance.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Five gigantic negroes, with shovels and hoes, leveled off the piles, working slowly and languidly over the task, their legs wet to the knees and their bodies plastered with mud.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Five gigantic negroes, with shovels and hoes, leveled off the piles, working slowly and languidly over the task, their legs wet to the knees and their bodies plastered with mud.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading As the little party drew nearer, they could see more plainly the heaps of mud and wet dirt left in the wake of the steam shovel.
pilesnounUS /paɪlz/
venous swelling external or internal to the anal sphincter
From this reading Five gigantic negroes, with shovels and hoes, leveled off the piles, working slowly and languidly over the task, their legs wet to the knees and their bodies plastered with mud.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading As the little party drew nearer, they could see more plainly the heaps of mud and wet dirt left in the wake of the steam shovel.
plasteredadjectiveUS /ˈplæstərd/
(of hair) made smooth by applying a sticky or glossy substance
From this reading Five gigantic negroes, with shovels and hoes, leveled off the piles, working slowly and languidly over the task, their legs wet to the knees and their bodies plastered with mud.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading THE working of the powerful machine had been observed from a distance.
SawsnounUS /sɔːz/
plural of “saw” — a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people
From this reading "Saws, all of them."
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading As the little party drew nearer, they could see more plainly the heaps of mud and wet dirt left in the wake of the steam shovel.
shovelnounUS /ˈʃʌvəl/
a hand tool for lifting loose material; consists of a curved container or scoop and a handle
From this reading As the little party drew nearer, they could see more plainly the heaps of mud and wet dirt left in the wake of the steam shovel.
shovelsnounUS /ˈʃʌvəlz/
plural of “shovel” — a hand tool for lifting loose material; consists of a curved container or scoop and a handle
From this reading Five gigantic negroes, with shovels and hoes, leveled off the piles, working slowly and languidly over the task, their legs wet to the knees and their bodies plastered with mud.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Five gigantic negroes, with shovels and hoes, leveled off the piles, working slowly and languidly over the task, their legs wet to the knees and their bodies plastered with mud.
steamverbUS /stiːm/
travel by means of steam power
From this reading As the little party drew nearer, they could see more plainly the heaps of mud and wet dirt left in the wake of the steam shovel.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading Five gigantic negroes, with shovels and hoes, leveled off the piles, working slowly and languidly over the task, their legs wet to the knees and their bodies plastered with mud.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE working of the powerful machine had been observed from a distance.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Five gigantic negroes, with shovels and hoes, leveled off the piles, working slowly and languidly over the task, their legs wet to the knees and their bodies plastered with mud.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "Saws, all of them."
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As the little party drew nearer, they could see more plainly the heaps of mud and wet dirt left in the wake of the steam shovel.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Five gigantic negroes, with shovels and hoes, leveled off the piles, working slowly and languidly over the task, their legs wet to the knees and their bodies plastered with mud.
be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading As the little party drew nearer, they could see more plainly the heaps of mud and wet dirt left in the wake of the steam shovel.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading As the little party drew nearer, they could see more plainly the heaps of mud and wet dirt left in the wake of the steam shovel.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Five gigantic negroes, with shovels and hoes, leveled off the piles, working slowly and languidly over the task, their legs wet to the knees and their bodies plastered with mud.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading THE working of the powerful machine had been observed from a distance.
