used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading "One guy in a taxicab down the avenue there, Miss, and another across the street.
alacritynounUS /əˈlækrəti/
liveliness and eagerness
From this reading Dan Morrissey touched his cap with alacrity.
alightverbUS /əˈlaɪt/
to come to rest, settle
From this reading The early dusk had fallen and the lamps were not yet alight, but the passers-by were still clearly discernible in the gloom.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Willa paused in the vestibule of the shabby apartment-house and looked carefully up and down the street before venturing forth.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading "One guy in a taxicab down the avenue there, Miss, and another across the street.
apartment-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Willa paused in the vestibule of the shabby apartment-house and looked carefully up and down the street before venturing forth.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
a line of approach
From this reading "One guy in a taxicab down the avenue there, Miss, and another across the street.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Willa paused in the vestibule of the shabby apartment-house and looked carefully up and down the street before venturing forth.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The early dusk had fallen and the lamps were not yet alight, but the passers-by were still clearly discernible in the gloom.
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading Dan Morrissey touched his cap with alacrity.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Willa paused in the vestibule of the shabby apartment-house and looked carefully up and down the street before venturing forth.
without doubt or question
From this reading The early dusk had fallen and the lamps were not yet alight, but the passers-by were still clearly discernible in the gloom.
COALSnounUS /koʊlz/
plural of “coal” — fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Willa paused in the vestibule of the shabby apartment-house and looked carefully up and down the street before venturing forth.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dan Morrissey touched his cap with alacrity.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
discernibleadjectiveUS /dɪˈsɜːrnəbəl/
perceptible by the senses or intellect
From this reading The early dusk had fallen and the lamps were not yet alight, but the passers-by were still clearly discernible in the gloom.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Willa paused in the vestibule of the shabby apartment-house and looked carefully up and down the street before venturing forth.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading The early dusk had fallen and the lamps were not yet alight, but the passers-by were still clearly discernible in the gloom.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading The early dusk had fallen and the lamps were not yet alight, but the passers-by were still clearly discernible in the gloom.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading The early dusk had fallen and the lamps were not yet alight, but the passers-by were still clearly discernible in the gloom.
start firing a weapon
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Willa paused in the vestibule of the shabby apartment-house and looked carefully up and down the street before venturing forth.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Willa paused in the vestibule of the shabby apartment-house and looked carefully up and down the street before venturing forth.
a young female
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading The early dusk had fallen and the lamps were not yet alight, but the passers-by were still clearly discernible in the gloom.
guynounUS /ɡaɪ/
an informal term for a youth or man
From this reading "One guy in a taxicab down the avenue there, Miss, and another across the street.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The early dusk had fallen and the lamps were not yet alight, but the passers-by were still clearly discernible in the gloom.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Dan Morrissey touched his cap with alacrity.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Willa paused in the vestibule of the shabby apartment-house and looked carefully up and down the street before venturing forth.
lampsnounUS /læmps/
plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading The early dusk had fallen and the lamps were not yet alight, but the passers-by were still clearly discernible in the gloom.
loitered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Willa paused in the vestibule of the shabby apartment-house and looked carefully up and down the street before venturing forth.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading "One guy in a taxicab down the avenue there, Miss, and another across the street.
Morrissey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dan Morrissey touched his cap with alacrity.
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
not one, and not any
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The early dusk had fallen and the lamps were not yet alight, but the passers-by were still clearly discernible in the gloom.
notingverbUS /ˈnoʊtɪŋ/
-ing form of “note” — make mention of
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Willa paused in the vestibule of the shabby apartment-house and looked carefully up and down the street before venturing forth.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "One guy in a taxicab down the avenue there, Miss, and another across the street.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
passers-bynounUS /ˈpæsərzbaɪ/
plural of “passer-by” — a person who passes by casually or by chance
From this reading The early dusk had fallen and the lamps were not yet alight, but the passers-by were still clearly discernible in the gloom.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Willa paused in the vestibule of the shabby apartment-house and looked carefully up and down the street before venturing forth.
retracedverbUS /riˈtreɪst/
past form of “retrace” — to go back over again
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
shabbyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæbi/
showing signs of wear and tear
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Willa paused in the vestibule of the shabby apartment-house and looked carefully up and down the street before venturing forth.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
not in physical motion
From this reading The early dusk had fallen and the lamps were not yet alight, but the passers-by were still clearly discernible in the gloom.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Willa paused in the vestibule of the shabby apartment-house and looked carefully up and down the street before venturing forth.
produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
taxicabnounUS /ˈtæksikæb/
a car driven by a person whose job is to take passengers where they want to go in exchange for money
From this reading "One guy in a taxicab down the avenue there, Miss, and another across the street.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Willa paused in the vestibule of the shabby apartment-house and looked carefully up and down the street before venturing forth.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "One guy in a taxicab down the avenue there, Miss, and another across the street.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
having come into contact
From this reading Dan Morrissey touched his cap with alacrity.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Willa paused in the vestibule of the shabby apartment-house and looked carefully up and down the street before venturing forth.
venturingverbUS /ˈventʃərɪŋ/
-ing form of “venture” — proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Willa paused in the vestibule of the shabby apartment-house and looked carefully up and down the street before venturing forth.
vestibulenounUS /ˈvestɪbjuːl/
a large entrance or reception room or area
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Willa paused in the vestibule of the shabby apartment-house and looked carefully up and down the street before venturing forth.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The early dusk had fallen and the lamps were not yet alight, but the passers-by were still clearly discernible in the gloom.
in or at the place that
From this reading The girl studied their movements for a time, and noting that none loitered or retraced their steps, she descended and made her way around the corner to where her car was waiting.
Willa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Willa paused in the vestibule of the shabby apartment-house and looked carefully up and down the street before venturing forth.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Dan Morrissey touched his cap with alacrity.
but in spite of that
From this reading The early dusk had fallen and the lamps were not yet alight, but the passers-by were still clearly discernible in the gloom.
