used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Save for a slouching wayfarer or two, shambling unsteadily along, and little groups gathered about the all-night coffee-stalls, the roads were deserted.
all-nightadjective
lasting, open, or operating through the whole night
From this reading Save for a slouching wayfarer or two, shambling unsteadily along, and little groups gathered about the all-night coffee-stalls, the roads were deserted.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Save for a slouching wayfarer or two, shambling unsteadily along, and little groups gathered about the all-night coffee-stalls, the roads were deserted.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Neither man had attempted any disguise.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
tried unsuccessfully
From this reading Neither man had attempted any disguise.
automaticallyadverbUS /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪkli/
in a reflex manner
From this reading As they turned into Grave Street they automatically walked in the centre of the roadway.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
brisklyadverbUS /ˈbrɪskli/
in a brisk manner
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
cabnounUS /kæb/
a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading As they turned into Grave Street they automatically walked in the centre of the roadway.
coffee-stalls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Save for a slouching wayfarer or two, shambling unsteadily along, and little groups gathered about the all-night coffee-stalls, the roads were deserted.
CommercialadjectiveUS /kəˈmɜːrʃəl/
connected with or engaged in or sponsored by or used in commerce or commercial enterprises
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading Save for a slouching wayfarer or two, shambling unsteadily along, and little groups gathered about the all-night coffee-stalls, the roads were deserted.
detectivesnounUS /dɪˈtektɪvz/
plural of “detective” — a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
disguisenounUS /dɪsˈɡaɪz/
A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.
From this reading Neither man had attempted any disguise.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
eastwardsadverb
toward the east
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Save for a slouching wayfarer or two, shambling unsteadily along, and little groups gathered about the all-night coffee-stalls, the roads were deserted.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
brought together in one place
From this reading Save for a slouching wayfarer or two, shambling unsteadily along, and little groups gathered about the all-night coffee-stalls, the roads were deserted.
death of a person
From this reading As they turned into Grave Street they automatically walked in the centre of the roadway.
groupsnounUS /ɡruːps/
plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading Save for a slouching wayfarer or two, shambling unsteadily along, and little groups gathered about the all-night coffee-stalls, the roads were deserted.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Neither man had attempted any disguise.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As they turned into Grave Street they automatically walked in the centre of the roadway.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading As they turned into Grave Street they automatically walked in the centre of the roadway.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not necessary now.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Save for a slouching wayfarer or two, shambling unsteadily along, and little groups gathered about the all-night coffee-stalls, the roads were deserted.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Neither man had attempted any disguise.
muffledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌfəld/
being or made softer or less loud or clear
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
absolutely essential
From this reading It was not necessary now.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Neither man had attempted any disguise.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not necessary now.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was not necessary now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As they turned into Grave Street they automatically walked in the centre of the roadway.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Save for a slouching wayfarer or two, shambling unsteadily along, and little groups gathered about the all-night coffee-stalls, the roads were deserted.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading Save for a slouching wayfarer or two, shambling unsteadily along, and little groups gathered about the all-night coffee-stalls, the roads were deserted.
roadwaynounUS /ˈroʊdweɪ/
a road (especially that part of a road) over which vehicles travel
From this reading As they turned into Grave Street they automatically walked in the centre of the roadway.
except for; apart from
From this reading Save for a slouching wayfarer or two, shambling unsteadily along, and little groups gathered about the all-night coffee-stalls, the roads were deserted.
shamblingnoun
walking with a slow dragging motion without lifting your feet
From this reading Save for a slouching wayfarer or two, shambling unsteadily along, and little groups gathered about the all-night coffee-stalls, the roads were deserted.
slouchingverbUS /ˈslaʊtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “slouch” — assume a drooping posture or carriage
From this reading Save for a slouching wayfarer or two, shambling unsteadily along, and little groups gathered about the all-night coffee-stalls, the roads were deserted.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading As they turned into Grave Street they automatically walked in the centre of the roadway.
sweepingadjectiveUS /ˈswiːpɪŋ/
taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As they turned into Grave Street they automatically walked in the centre of the roadway.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading As they turned into Grave Street they automatically walked in the centre of the roadway.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
unsteadilyadverb
in an unsteady manner
From this reading Save for a slouching wayfarer or two, shambling unsteadily along, and little groups gathered about the all-night coffee-stalls, the roads were deserted.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
wayfarernoun
a pedestrian who walks from place to place
From this reading Save for a slouching wayfarer or two, shambling unsteadily along, and little groups gathered about the all-night coffee-stalls, the roads were deserted.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Save for a slouching wayfarer or two, shambling unsteadily along, and little groups gathered about the all-night coffee-stalls, the roads were deserted.
Whitechapel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading A bitter wind was sweeping the Commercial Road, Whitechapel, as the two detectives, each well muffled up, descended from their cab and walked briskly eastwards.
