used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “It would not have been a bad match.
(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 All this swept over the head of Hattie Tolliver.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
arcsnounUS /ɑːrks/
plural of “arc” — electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
areanounUS /ˈeriə/
a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading “It would not have been a bad match.
barriernounUS /ˈbæriər/
a structure or object that impedes free movement
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “It would not have been a bad match.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
deliberationnounUS /dɪˌlɪbərˈeɪʃən/
(usually plural) discussion of all sides of a question
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
FlatsnounUS /flæts/
footwear (shoes or slippers) with no heel (or a very low heel)
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
furtivelyadverbUS /ˈfɜːrtɪvli/
in a furtive manner
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
giganticadjectiveUS /dʒaɪˈɡæntɪk/
so exceedingly large or extensive as to suggest a giant or mammoth
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
Hattie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this swept over the head of Hattie Tolliver.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “It would not have been a bad match.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He is a senator now.”
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading All this swept over the head of Hattie Tolliver.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He is a senator now.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It would not have been a bad match.
jerkyadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɜːrki/
lacking a steady rhythm
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading “It would not have been a bad match.
MillsnounUS /mɪlz/
United States architect who was the presidentially appointed architect of Washington D.C. (1781-1855)
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “It would not have been a bad match.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He is a senator now.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All this swept over the head of Hattie Tolliver.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She returned to one thing.
operateverbUS /ˈɑːpəreɪt/
direct or control; projects, businesses, etc.
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading All this swept over the head of Hattie Tolliver.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading She returned to one thing.
searchlightsnounUS /ˈsɜːrtʃlaɪts/
plural of “searchlight” — a light source with reflectors that projects a beam of light in a particular direction
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
senatornounUS /ˈsenətər/
a member of a senate
From this reading He is a senator now.”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She returned to one thing.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
squalidadjectiveUS /ˈskwɑːləd/
morally degraded
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
sweepingadjectiveUS /ˈswiːpɪŋ/
taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
possessing sweep
From this reading All this swept over the head of Hattie Tolliver.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading All this swept over the head of Hattie Tolliver.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
a special situation
From this reading She returned to one thing.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading All this swept over the head of Hattie Tolliver.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She returned to one thing.
Tolliver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this swept over the head of Hattie Tolliver.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It had grown quite dark during their talk and from inside the barrier of the Mills the searchlights began to operate, at first furtively and in jerky fashion and then slowly with greater and greater deliberation, sweeping in gigantic arcs the sky and the squalid area of the Flats.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “It would not have been a bad match.
