Chapter XVII

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading So the male-nurse threw a professional glance round the scene of his activities, noted the perfection of orderliness, and went his way.

plural of “activity” — any specific behavior

From this reading So the male-nurse threw a professional glance round the scene of his activities, noted the perfection of orderliness, and went his way.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading The shadows were massed against the ceiling like sultry, motionless clouds.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading They loomed over the withering body stretched out beneath them in the rigidity of death, their stifling intensity loaded with an overpowering perfume.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading So the male-nurse threw a professional glance round the scene of his activities, noted the perfection of orderliness, and went his way.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading There were flowers everywhere—on the table, at the foot of the bed, on the chest of drawers, on the shelves, lighting the room’s barren simplicity with fierce, burning colour.

providing no shelter or sustenance

From this reading There were flowers everywhere—on the table, at the foot of the bed, on the chest of drawers, on the shelves, lighting the room’s barren simplicity with fierce, burning colour.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading There were flowers everywhere—on the table, at the foot of the bed, on the chest of drawers, on the shelves, lighting the room’s barren simplicity with fierce, burning colour.

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading They loomed over the withering body stretched out beneath them in the rigidity of death, their stifling intensity loaded with an overpowering perfume.

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading They loomed over the withering body stretched out beneath them in the rigidity of death, their stifling intensity loaded with an overpowering perfume.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Boucicault continued to stare upwards.

the act of burning something

From this reading There were flowers everywhere—on the table, at the foot of the bed, on the chest of drawers, on the shelves, lighting the room’s barren simplicity with fierce, burning colour.

the overhead upper surface of a covered space

From this reading The shadows were massed against the ceiling like sultry, motionless clouds.

the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates

From this reading There were flowers everywhere—on the table, at the foot of the bed, on the chest of drawers, on the shelves, lighting the room’s barren simplicity with fierce, burning colour.

plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible

From this reading The shadows were massed against the ceiling like sultry, motionless clouds.

having or capable of producing colors

From this reading There were flowers everywhere—on the table, at the foot of the bed, on the chest of drawers, on the shelves, lighting the room’s barren simplicity with fierce, burning colour.

without stop or interruption

From this reading Boucicault continued to stare upwards.

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading They loomed over the withering body stretched out beneath them in the rigidity of death, their stifling intensity loaded with an overpowering perfume.

underpants worn by men

From this reading There were flowers everywhere—on the table, at the foot of the bed, on the chest of drawers, on the shelves, lighting the room’s barren simplicity with fierce, burning colour.

to or in any or all places

From this reading There were flowers everywhere—on the table, at the foot of the bed, on the chest of drawers, on the shelves, lighting the room’s barren simplicity with fierce, burning colour.

marked by extreme and violent energy

From this reading There were flowers everywhere—on the table, at the foot of the bed, on the chest of drawers, on the shelves, lighting the room’s barren simplicity with fierce, burning colour.

plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms

From this reading There were flowers everywhere—on the table, at the foot of the bed, on the chest of drawers, on the shelves, lighting the room’s barren simplicity with fierce, burning colour.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading There were flowers everywhere—on the table, at the foot of the bed, on the chest of drawers, on the shelves, lighting the room’s barren simplicity with fierce, burning colour.

throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading So the male-nurse threw a professional glance round the scene of his activities, noted the perfection of orderliness, and went his way.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading So the male-nurse threw a professional glance round the scene of his activities, noted the perfection of orderliness, and went his way.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading They loomed over the withering body stretched out beneath them in the rigidity of death, their stifling intensity loaded with an overpowering perfume.

the amount of energy transmitted (as by acoustic or electromagnetic radiation)

From this reading They loomed over the withering body stretched out beneath them in the rigidity of death, their stifling intensity loaded with an overpowering perfume.

having abundant light or illumination

From this reading There were flowers everywhere—on the table, at the foot of the bed, on the chest of drawers, on the shelves, lighting the room’s barren simplicity with fierce, burning colour.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading The shadows were massed against the ceiling like sultry, motionless clouds.

filled with a great quantity

From this reading They loomed over the withering body stretched out beneath them in the rigidity of death, their stifling intensity loaded with an overpowering perfume.

past form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly

From this reading They loomed over the withering body stretched out beneath them in the rigidity of death, their stifling intensity loaded with an overpowering perfume.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So the male-nurse threw a professional glance round the scene of his activities, noted the perfection of orderliness, and went his way.

past form of “mass” — join together into a mass or collect or form a mass

From this reading The shadows were massed against the ceiling like sultry, motionless clouds.

not in physical motion

From this reading The shadows were massed against the ceiling like sultry, motionless clouds.

widely known and esteemed

From this reading So the male-nurse threw a professional glance round the scene of his activities, noted the perfection of orderliness, and went his way.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading So the male-nurse threw a professional glance round the scene of his activities, noted the perfection of orderliness, and went his way.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading There were flowers everywhere—on the table, at the foot of the bed, on the chest of drawers, on the shelves, lighting the room’s barren simplicity with fierce, burning colour.

the quality of appreciating method and system

From this reading So the male-nurse threw a professional glance round the scene of his activities, noted the perfection of orderliness, and went his way.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading They loomed over the withering body stretched out beneath them in the rigidity of death, their stifling intensity loaded with an overpowering perfume.

above and across; more than

From this reading They loomed over the withering body stretched out beneath them in the rigidity of death, their stifling intensity loaded with an overpowering perfume.

so strong as to be irresistible

From this reading They loomed over the withering body stretched out beneath them in the rigidity of death, their stifling intensity loaded with an overpowering perfume.

the state of being without a flaw or defect

From this reading So the male-nurse threw a professional glance round the scene of his activities, noted the perfection of orderliness, and went his way.

a distinctive odor that is pleasant

From this reading They loomed over the withering body stretched out beneath them in the rigidity of death, their stifling intensity loaded with an overpowering perfume.

engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood

From this reading So the male-nurse threw a professional glance round the scene of his activities, noted the perfection of orderliness, and went his way.

the physical property of being stiff and resisting bending

From this reading They loomed over the withering body stretched out beneath them in the rigidity of death, their stifling intensity loaded with an overpowering perfume.

possessive form of “room” — an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading There were flowers everywhere—on the table, at the foot of the bed, on the chest of drawers, on the shelves, lighting the room’s barren simplicity with fierce, burning colour.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading So the male-nurse threw a professional glance round the scene of his activities, noted the perfection of orderliness, and went his way.

the place where some action occurs

From this reading So the male-nurse threw a professional glance round the scene of his activities, noted the perfection of orderliness, and went his way.

plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries

From this reading The shadows were massed against the ceiling like sultry, motionless clouds.

Plural of shelf; the vast wooden or stone structures holding archives.

From this reading There were flowers everywhere—on the table, at the foot of the bed, on the chest of drawers, on the shelves, lighting the room’s barren simplicity with fierce, burning colour.

the quality of being simple or uncompounded

From this reading There were flowers everywhere—on the table, at the foot of the bed, on the chest of drawers, on the shelves, lighting the room’s barren simplicity with fierce, burning colour.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So the male-nurse threw a professional glance round the scene of his activities, noted the perfection of orderliness, and went his way.

look at with fixed eyes

From this reading Boucicault continued to stare upwards.

forceful prevention; putting down by power or authority

From this reading They loomed over the withering body stretched out beneath them in the rigidity of death, their stifling intensity loaded with an overpowering perfume.

(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching

From this reading They loomed over the withering body stretched out beneath them in the rigidity of death, their stifling intensity loaded with an overpowering perfume.

sexually exciting or gratifying

From this reading The shadows were massed against the ceiling like sultry, motionless clouds.

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading There were flowers everywhere—on the table, at the foot of the bed, on the chest of drawers, on the shelves, lighting the room’s barren simplicity with fierce, burning colour.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading So the male-nurse threw a professional glance round the scene of his activities, noted the perfection of orderliness, and went his way.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They loomed over the withering body stretched out beneath them in the rigidity of death, their stifling intensity loaded with an overpowering perfume.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading They loomed over the withering body stretched out beneath them in the rigidity of death, their stifling intensity loaded with an overpowering perfume.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There were flowers everywhere—on the table, at the foot of the bed, on the chest of drawers, on the shelves, lighting the room’s barren simplicity with fierce, burning colour.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They loomed over the withering body stretched out beneath them in the rigidity of death, their stifling intensity loaded with an overpowering perfume.

inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air

From this reading So the male-nurse threw a professional glance round the scene of his activities, noted the perfection of orderliness, and went his way.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Boucicault continued to stare upwards.

spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position

From this reading Boucicault continued to stare upwards.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading So the male-nurse threw a professional glance round the scene of his activities, noted the perfection of orderliness, and went his way.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading So the male-nurse threw a professional glance round the scene of his activities, noted the perfection of orderliness, and went his way.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The shadows were massed against the ceiling like sultry, motionless clouds.

in the company of; together with

From this reading They loomed over the withering body stretched out beneath them in the rigidity of death, their stifling intensity loaded with an overpowering perfume.

wreaking or capable of wreaking complete destruction

From this reading They loomed over the withering body stretched out beneath them in the rigidity of death, their stifling intensity loaded with an overpowering perfume.