used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
administrationnounUS /ædˌmɪnɪˈstreɪʃən/
a method of tending to or managing the affairs of a some group of people (especially the group's business affairs)
From this reading From the early morning the greater part of the convicts were occupied with their own affairs, and not with those of the administration.
matters of personal concern
From this reading From the early morning the greater part of the convicts were occupied with their own affairs, and not with those of the administration.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After dinner no one worked.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS The holidays were approaching.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
assignedadjectiveUS /əˈsaɪnd/
appointed to a post or duty
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS The holidays were approaching.
convictnounUS /ˈkɑːnvɪkt/
a person serving a sentence in a jail or prison
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
convictsnounUS /ˈkɑːnvɪkts/
plural of “convict” — a person serving a sentence in a jail or prison
From this reading On the eve of the great day the convicts scarcely ever went to work.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading On the eve of the great day the convicts scarcely ever went to work.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading After dinner no one worked.
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 From the early morning the greater part of the convicts were occupied with their own affairs, and not with those of the administration.
(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
From this reading On the eve of the great day the convicts scarcely ever went to work.
at any time
From this reading On the eve of the great day the convicts scarcely ever went to work.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the early morning the greater part of the convicts were occupied with their own affairs, and not with those of the administration.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading On the eve of the great day the convicts scarcely ever went to work.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading From the early morning the greater part of the convicts were occupied with their own affairs, and not with those of the administration.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
HOLIDAYSnounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪz/
plural of “holiday” — leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS The holidays were approaching.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading From the early morning the greater part of the convicts were occupied with their own affairs, and not with those of the administration.
not any; not one
From this reading After dinner no one worked.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading From the early morning the greater part of the convicts were occupied with their own affairs, and not with those of the administration.
held or filled or in use
From this reading From the early morning the greater part of the convicts were occupied with their own affairs, and not with those of the administration.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the eve of the great day the convicts scarcely ever went to work.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the eve of the great day the convicts scarcely ever went to work.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading After dinner no one worked.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading From the early morning the greater part of the convicts were occupied with their own affairs, and not with those of the administration.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading From the early morning the greater part of the convicts were occupied with their own affairs, and not with those of the administration.
plural of “party” — an organization to gain political power
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
only a very short time before
From this reading On the eve of the great day the convicts scarcely ever went to work.
separatelyadverbUS /ˈsepərətli/
apart from others
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
sewingnounUS /ˈsoʊɪŋ/
joining or attaching by stitches
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS The holidays were approaching.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading From the early morning the greater part of the convicts were occupied with their own affairs, and not with those of the administration.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On the eve of the great day the convicts scarcely ever went to work.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading On the eve of the great day the convicts scarcely ever went to work.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS The holidays were approaching.
which person or people
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
in the company of; together with
From this reading From the early morning the greater part of the convicts were occupied with their own affairs, and not with those of the administration.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading On the eve of the great day the convicts scarcely ever went to work.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading After dinner no one worked.
workshopsnounUS /ˈwɜːrkʃɑːps/
plural of “workshop” — small workplace where handcrafts or manufacturing are done
From this reading Those who had been assigned to the sewing workshops, and a few others, went to work as usual; but they went back almost immediately to the convict prison, separately, or in parties.
