used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Some repairs were being made, and the office force was huddled into a space about half large enough for it up on the fourth floor.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Some repairs were being made, and the office force was huddled into a space about half large enough for it up on the fourth floor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Some repairs were being made, and the office force was huddled into a space about half large enough for it up on the fourth floor.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The desk was a small, disorderly table littered with papers swarming over, around and under a battered typewriter.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When Mabel finally reached the room, she was told that Miss Gere was out but that she might wait at her desk.
batteredadjectiveUS /ˈbætərd/
damaged by blows or hard usage
From this reading The desk was a small, disorderly table littered with papers swarming over, around and under a battered typewriter.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Some repairs were being made, and the office force was huddled into a space about half large enough for it up on the fourth floor.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Mabel, hunting for Miss Gere in the big newspaper building, nearly died of fright.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading Mabel, hunting for Miss Gere in the big newspaper building, nearly died of fright.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading When Mabel finally reached the room, she was told that Miss Gere was out but that she might wait at her desk.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading When Mabel finally reached the room, she was told that Miss Gere was out but that she might wait at her desk.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading Mabel, hunting for Miss Gere in the big newspaper building, nearly died of fright.
disorderlyadjectiveUS /dɪˈsɔːrdərli/
undisciplined and unruly
From this reading The desk was a small, disorderly table littered with papers swarming over, around and under a battered typewriter.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She sat down and looked about.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Some repairs were being made, and the office force was huddled into a space about half large enough for it up on the fourth floor.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading When Mabel finally reached the room, she was told that Miss Gere was out but that she might wait at her desk.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Some repairs were being made, and the office force was huddled into a space about half large enough for it up on the fourth floor.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mabel, hunting for Miss Gere in the big newspaper building, nearly died of fright.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Some repairs were being made, and the office force was huddled into a space about half large enough for it up on the fourth floor.
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading Some repairs were being made, and the office force was huddled into a space about half large enough for it up on the fourth floor.
frightnounUS /fraɪt/
an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading Mabel, hunting for Miss Gere in the big newspaper building, nearly died of fright.
Gere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mabel, hunting for Miss Gere in the big newspaper building, nearly died of fright.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Some repairs were being made, and the office force was huddled into a space about half large enough for it up on the fourth floor.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Mabel finally reached the room, she was told that Miss Gere was out but that she might wait at her desk.
huddledadjectiveUS /ˈhʌdəld/
crowded or massed together
From this reading Some repairs were being made, and the office force was huddled into a space about half large enough for it up on the fourth floor.
the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport
From this reading Mabel, hunting for Miss Gere in the big newspaper building, nearly died of fright.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mabel, hunting for Miss Gere in the big newspaper building, nearly died of fright.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Some repairs were being made, and the office force was huddled into a space about half large enough for it up on the fourth floor.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Some repairs were being made, and the office force was huddled into a space about half large enough for it up on the fourth floor.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Some repairs were being made, and the office force was huddled into a space about half large enough for it up on the fourth floor.
litteredadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtərd/
filled or scattered with a disorderly accumulation of objects or rubbish
From this reading The desk was a small, disorderly table littered with papers swarming over, around and under a battered typewriter.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She sat down and looked about.
Mabel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mabel, hunting for Miss Gere in the big newspaper building, nearly died of fright.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Some repairs were being made, and the office force was huddled into a space about half large enough for it up on the fourth floor.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading When Mabel finally reached the room, she was told that Miss Gere was out but that she might wait at her desk.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Mabel, hunting for Miss Gere in the big newspaper building, nearly died of fright.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Mabel, hunting for Miss Gere in the big newspaper building, nearly died of fright.
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading Mabel, hunting for Miss Gere in the big newspaper building, nearly died of fright.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mabel, hunting for Miss Gere in the big newspaper building, nearly died of fright.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Some repairs were being made, and the office force was huddled into a space about half large enough for it up on the fourth floor.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Some repairs were being made, and the office force was huddled into a space about half large enough for it up on the fourth floor.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading When Mabel finally reached the room, she was told that Miss Gere was out but that she might wait at her desk.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The desk was a small, disorderly table littered with papers swarming over, around and under a battered typewriter.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading The desk was a small, disorderly table littered with papers swarming over, around and under a battered typewriter.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading When Mabel finally reached the room, she was told that Miss Gere was out but that she might wait at her desk.
repairsnounUS /rɪˈperz/
plural of “repair” — the act of putting something in working order again
From this reading Some repairs were being made, and the office force was huddled into a space about half large enough for it up on the fourth floor.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading When Mabel finally reached the room, she was told that Miss Gere was out but that she might wait at her desk.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading She sat down and looked about.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Mabel finally reached the room, she was told that Miss Gere was out but that she might wait at her desk.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The desk was a small, disorderly table littered with papers swarming over, around and under a battered typewriter.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some repairs were being made, and the office force was huddled into a space about half large enough for it up on the fourth floor.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Some repairs were being made, and the office force was huddled into a space about half large enough for it up on the fourth floor.
swarmingverbUS /ˈswɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “swarm” — be teeming, be abuzz
From this reading The desk was a small, disorderly table littered with papers swarming over, around and under a battered typewriter.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The desk was a small, disorderly table littered with papers swarming over, around and under a battered typewriter.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When Mabel finally reached the room, she was told that Miss Gere was out but that she might wait at her desk.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mabel, hunting for Miss Gere in the big newspaper building, nearly died of fright.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading When Mabel finally reached the room, she was told that Miss Gere was out but that she might wait at her desk.
typewriternounUS /ˈtaɪpraɪtər/
hand-operated character printer for printing written messages one character at a time
From this reading The desk was a small, disorderly table littered with papers swarming over, around and under a battered typewriter.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The desk was a small, disorderly table littered with papers swarming over, around and under a battered typewriter.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Some repairs were being made, and the office force was huddled into a space about half large enough for it up on the fourth floor.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading When Mabel finally reached the room, she was told that Miss Gere was out but that she might wait at her desk.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Some repairs were being made, and the office force was huddled into a space about half large enough for it up on the fourth floor.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Some repairs were being made, and the office force was huddled into a space about half large enough for it up on the fourth floor.
at the time that
From this reading When Mabel finally reached the room, she was told that Miss Gere was out but that she might wait at her desk.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The desk was a small, disorderly table littered with papers swarming over, around and under a battered typewriter.
