used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They were really evil-looking men, and for a moment Ruth hesitated.
past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading But she had not acted as mother to her younger sisters all these years for nothing.
(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 But she had not acted as mother to her younger sisters all these years for nothing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But she had not acted as mother to her younger sisters all these years for nothing.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
cellarnounUS /ˈselər/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
well in the past; former
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
dirtyadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrti/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
DotnounUS /dɑːt/
a very small circular shape
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
evil-lookingadjective
having an evil appearance
From this reading They were really evil-looking men, and for a moment Ruth hesitated.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They were really evil-looking men, and for a moment Ruth hesitated.
made afraid
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But she had not acted as mother to her younger sisters all these years for nothing.
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading They were really evil-looking men, and for a moment Ruth hesitated.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
and nothing more
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
Kenway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
the force of workers available
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
a particular point in time
From this reading They were really evil-looking men, and for a moment Ruth hesitated.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading But she had not acted as mother to her younger sisters all these years for nothing.
not any; not one
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But she had not acted as mother to her younger sisters all these years for nothing.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading But she had not acted as mother to her younger sisters all these years for nothing.
being perceived or observed
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading They were really evil-looking men, and for a moment Ruth hesitated.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
Sammy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
Sammy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading And tramps they seemed to be.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But she had not acted as mother to her younger sisters all these years for nothing.
plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading But she had not acted as mother to her younger sisters all these years for nothing.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
Tess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading But she had not acted as mother to her younger sisters all these years for nothing.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
trampsnounUS /træmpz/
plural of “tramp” — a vagrant
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Ruth Kenway reached the rear porch of the house just as the two queer men—ragged and dirty they were, too—were starting down the outside cellar steps.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Ruth had noticed that Tess, Dot and Sammy had departed, probably having gone over to Sammy’s house, so there was no fear that the children would be frightened by the tramps.
a late time of life
From this reading But she had not acted as mother to her younger sisters all these years for nothing.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading But she had not acted as mother to her younger sisters all these years for nothing.
