used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NIGHT IN A MEXICAN KITCHEN.
adobenounUS /əˈdoʊbi/
the clay from which adobe bricks are made
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
(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 As they approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds and conditions, made his appearance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading As they approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds and conditions, made his appearance.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading As they approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds and conditions, made his appearance.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As they approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds and conditions, made his appearance.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Rushing at the horses, the dogs made the neighborhood hideous with their barking, but they made no attempt to do more.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Rushing at the horses, the dogs made the neighborhood hideous with their barking, but they made no attempt to do more.
barkingverbUS /ˈbɑːrkɪŋ/
-ing form of “bark” — speak in an unfriendly tone
From this reading Rushing at the horses, the dogs made the neighborhood hideous with their barking, but they made no attempt to do more.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
blanketedadjectiveUS /ˈblæŋkətɪd/
covered with (or as if with) a blanket
From this reading As they approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds and conditions, made his appearance.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Rushing at the horses, the dogs made the neighborhood hideous with their barking, but they made no attempt to do more.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “What do you want?” called out the man, speaking in Spanish.
clusterverbUS /ˈklʌstər/
come together as in a cluster or flock
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process
From this reading As they approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds and conditions, made his appearance.
descendingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsendɪŋ/
coming down or downward
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Rushing at the horses, the dogs made the neighborhood hideous with their barking, but they made no attempt to do more.
plural of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading As they approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds and conditions, made his appearance.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading As they approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds and conditions, made his appearance.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading As they approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds and conditions, made his appearance.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading As they approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds and conditions, made his appearance.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading As they approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds and conditions, made his appearance.
hamletnounUS /ˈhæmlət/
a community of people smaller than a village
From this reading As they approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds and conditions, made his appearance.
hideousadjectiveUS /ˈhɪdiəs/
grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
From this reading Rushing at the horses, the dogs made the neighborhood hideous with their barking, but they made no attempt to do more.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As they approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds and conditions, made his appearance.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Rushing at the horses, the dogs made the neighborhood hideous with their barking, but they made no attempt to do more.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading As they approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds and conditions, made his appearance.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A NIGHT IN A MEXICAN KITCHEN.
plural of “kind” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading As they approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds and conditions, made his appearance.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading A NIGHT IN A MEXICAN KITCHEN.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading As they approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds and conditions, made his appearance.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “What do you want?” called out the man, speaking in Spanish.
MEXICANnounUS /ˈmeksəkən/
a native or inhabitant of Mexico
From this reading A NIGHT IN A MEXICAN KITCHEN.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Rushing at the horses, the dogs made the neighborhood hideous with their barking, but they made no attempt to do more.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
neighborhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading Rushing at the horses, the dogs made the neighborhood hideous with their barking, but they made no attempt to do more.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A NIGHT IN A MEXICAN KITCHEN.
not any; not one
From this reading Rushing at the horses, the dogs made the neighborhood hideous with their barking, but they made no attempt to do more.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As they approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds and conditions, made his appearance.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading As they approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds and conditions, made his appearance.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “What do you want?” called out the man, speaking in Spanish.
outskirtsnounUS /ˈaʊtskɜːrts/
outlying areas (as of a city or town)
From this reading As they approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds and conditions, made his appearance.
peonnounUS /ˈpiːən/
a laborer who is obliged to do menial work
From this reading As they approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds and conditions, made his appearance.
precededverbUS /prɪˈsiːdɪd/
past form of “precede” — be earlier in time; go back further
From this reading As they approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds and conditions, made his appearance.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line
From this reading Rushing at the horses, the dogs made the neighborhood hideous with their barking, but they made no attempt to do more.
the Romance language spoken in most of Spain and the countries colonized by Spain
From this reading “What do you want?” called out the man, speaking in Spanish.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading “What do you want?” called out the man, speaking in Spanish.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
the environmental condition
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Rushing at the horses, the dogs made the neighborhood hideous with their barking, but they made no attempt to do more.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As they approached the first house on the outskirts of the hamlet, the door opened and a blanketed peon, preceded by half a dozen dogs of all kinds and conditions, made his appearance.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
torrentsnounUS /ˈtɔːrənts/
plural of “torrent” — a heavy rain
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
tropicaladjectiveUS /ˈtrɑːpɪkəl/
relating to or situated in or characteristic of the tropics (the region on either side of the equator)
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading “What do you want?” called out the man, speaking in Spanish.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading By the time the boys reached the little cluster of adobe buildings, the rain was descending in torrents, and, in spite of the tropical surroundings, the air was much too cold to be comfortable.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What do you want?” called out the man, speaking in Spanish.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Rushing at the horses, the dogs made the neighborhood hideous with their barking, but they made no attempt to do more.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “What do you want?” called out the man, speaking in Spanish.
