used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
AbbenounUS /ˈæbi/
a French abbot
From this reading One morning Durtal went out to seek the Abbe Plomb.
affectsnounUS /əˈfekts/
plural of “affect” — the conscious subjective aspect of feeling or emotion
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The dead stock of a vine stretched its gnarled black arms along the wall.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading The dead stock of a vine stretched its gnarled black arms along the wall.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
beadlenounUS /ˈbiːdəl/
a minor parish official who serves a ceremonial function
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The dead stock of a vine stretched its gnarled black arms along the wall.
blistersnounUS /ˈblɪstərz/
plural of “blister” — a flaw on a surface resulting when an applied substance does not adhere (as an air bubble in a coat of paint)
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
the lower side of anything
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
cathedralnounUS /kəˈθiːdrəl/
any large and important church
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
choir-school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrt.jɑːrd/
An unroofed area that is completely or partially enclosed by the walls of a house.
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
crackledverbUS /ˈkrækəld/
past form of “crackle” — make a crackling sound
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
cutaneousadjectiveUS /ˌkjuːˈteɪniːəs/
relating to or existing on or affecting the skin
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading The dead stock of a vine stretched its gnarled black arms along the wall.
(often used in combination) having a specified direction
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
diseasenounUS /dɪˈziːz/
an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
Durtal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning Durtal went out to seek the Abbe Plomb.
inflected form of “eat” — take in solid food
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
glazeverbUS /ɡleɪz/
coat with a glaze
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
gnarledadjectiveUS /nɑːrld/
used of old persons or old trees; covered with knobs or knots
From this reading The dead stock of a vine stretched its gnarled black arms along the wall.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The dead stock of a vine stretched its gnarled black arms along the wall.
jarverbUS /dʒɑːr/
be incompatible; be or come into conflict
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
l'Acacia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
immediately past
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
leprosynounUS /ˈleprəsi/
chronic granulomatous communicable disease occurring in tropical and subtropical regions; characterized by inflamed nodules beneath the skin and wasting of body parts; caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
litteredadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtərd/
filled or scattered with a disorderly accumulation of objects or rubbish
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
lodgedverbUS /lɑːdʒd/
past form of “lodge” — be a lodger; stay temporarily
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading One morning Durtal went out to seek the Abbe Plomb.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One morning Durtal went out to seek the Abbe Plomb.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading One morning Durtal went out to seek the Abbe Plomb.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
pailsnounUS /peɪlz/
plural of “pail” — a roughly cylindrical vessel that is open at the top
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
plasterverbUS /ˈplæstər/
apply a heavy coat to
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
Plomb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning Durtal went out to seek the Abbe Plomb.
riftsnounUS /rɪfts/
plural of “rift” — a gap between cloud masses
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
rubbishnounUS /ˈrʌbɪʃ/
worthless material that is to be disposed of
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
European strong-scented perennial herb with grey-green bitter-tasting leaves; an irritant similar to poison ivy
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
try to get or reach
From this reading One morning Durtal went out to seek the Abbe Plomb.
spottedadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːtɪd/
having spots or patches (small areas of contrasting color or texture)
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest
From this reading The dead stock of a vine stretched its gnarled black arms along the wall.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading The dead stock of a vine stretched its gnarled black arms along the wall.
a state of acute pain
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One morning Durtal went out to seek the Abbe Plomb.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One morning Durtal went out to seek the Abbe Plomb.
the upper part of anything
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
vinenounUS /vaɪn/
a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface
From this reading The dead stock of a vine stretched its gnarled black arms along the 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 The dead stock of a vine stretched its gnarled black arms along the wall.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading One morning Durtal went out to seek the Abbe Plomb.
in or at the place that
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
zig-zagadjectiveUS /ˈzɪɡzæɡ/
having short sharp turns or angles
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
