used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
bassnounUS /bæs/
the lowest part of the musical range
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The hydrant cover had been thrown off and the first block of coal flung into the engine's furnace before Patrolman Chandler reissued from the door which he had entered.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The hydrant cover had been thrown off and the first block of coal flung into the engine's furnace before Patrolman Chandler reissued from the door which he had entered.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
plural of “bell” — a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
blocknounUS /blɑːk/
a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading The hydrant cover had been thrown off and the first block of coal flung into the engine's furnace before Patrolman Chandler reissued from the door which he had entered.
boundedadjectiveUS /ˈbaʊndəd/
having the limits or boundaries established
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But no one stirred inside.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
ChandlernounUS /ˈtʃændlər/
United States writer of detective thrillers featuring the character of Philip Marlowe (1888-1959)
From this reading The hydrant cover had been thrown off and the first block of coal flung into the engine's furnace before Patrolman Chandler reissued from the door which he had entered.
a young person of either sex
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
coalnounUS /koʊl/
fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading The hydrant cover had been thrown off and the first block of coal flung into the engine's furnace before Patrolman Chandler reissued from the door which he had entered.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading The hydrant cover had been thrown off and the first block of coal flung into the engine's furnace before Patrolman Chandler reissued from the door which he had entered.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
doomedadjectiveUS /duːmd/
marked for certain death
From this reading On, on, past the doomed house, now enveloped in flames, to the nearest hydrant, the driver lashed his pair.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The hydrant cover had been thrown off and the first block of coal flung into the engine's furnace before Patrolman Chandler reissued from the door which he had entered.
the operator of a motor vehicle
From this reading On, on, past the doomed house, now enveloped in flames, to the nearest hydrant, the driver lashed his pair.
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
engine'snounUS /ˈendʒənz/
possessive form of “engine” — motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading The hydrant cover had been thrown off and the first block of coal flung into the engine's furnace before Patrolman Chandler reissued from the door which he had entered.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading The hydrant cover had been thrown off and the first block of coal flung into the engine's furnace before Patrolman Chandler reissued from the door which he had entered.
envelopedverbUS /enˈveləpt/
past form of “envelop” — enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering
From this reading On, on, past the doomed house, now enveloped in flames, to the nearest hydrant, the driver lashed his pair.
start firing a weapon
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The hydrant cover had been thrown off and the first block of coal flung into the engine's furnace before Patrolman Chandler reissued from the door which he had entered.
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading On, on, past the doomed house, now enveloped in flames, to the nearest hydrant, the driver lashed his pair.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading The hydrant cover had been thrown off and the first block of coal flung into the engine's furnace before Patrolman Chandler reissued from the door which he had entered.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
furnacenounUS /ˈfɜːrnəs/
an enclosed chamber in which heat is produced to heat buildings, destroy refuse, smelt or refine ores, etc.
From this reading The hydrant cover had been thrown off and the first block of coal flung into the engine's furnace before Patrolman Chandler reissued from the door which he had entered.
gradenounUS /ɡreɪd/
a body of students who are taught together
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The hydrant cover had been thrown off and the first block of coal flung into the engine's furnace before Patrolman Chandler reissued from the door which he had entered.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The hydrant cover had been thrown off and the first block of coal flung into the engine's furnace before Patrolman Chandler reissued from the door which he had entered.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading On, on, past the doomed house, now enveloped in flames, to the nearest hydrant, the driver lashed his pair.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading On, on, past the doomed house, now enveloped in flames, to the nearest hydrant, the driver lashed his pair.
hydrantnounUS /ˈhaɪdrənt/
a faucet for drawing water from a pipe or cask
From this reading On, on, past the doomed house, now enveloped in flames, to the nearest hydrant, the driver lashed his pair.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading But no one stirred inside.
interminglingverbUS /ˌɪntərˈmɪŋɡəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “intermingle” — combine into one
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The hydrant cover had been thrown off and the first block of coal flung into the engine's furnace before Patrolman Chandler reissued from the door which he had entered.
and nothing more
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
lashedverbUS /læʃt/
past form of “lash” — beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading On, on, past the doomed house, now enveloped in flames, to the nearest hydrant, the driver lashed his pair.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
a particular point in time
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading On, on, past the doomed house, now enveloped in flames, to the nearest hydrant, the driver lashed his pair.
not any; not one
From this reading But no one stirred inside.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading On, on, past the doomed house, now enveloped in flames, to the nearest hydrant, the driver lashed his pair.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The hydrant cover had been thrown off and the first block of coal flung into the engine's furnace before Patrolman Chandler reissued from the door which he had entered.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On, on, past the doomed house, now enveloped in flames, to the nearest hydrant, the driver lashed his pair.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But no one stirred inside.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading On, on, past the doomed house, now enveloped in flames, to the nearest hydrant, the driver lashed his pair.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading On, on, past the doomed house, now enveloped in flames, to the nearest hydrant, the driver lashed his pair.
PatrolmannounUS /pəˈtroʊlmæn/
a policeman who patrols a given region
From this reading The hydrant cover had been thrown off and the first block of coal flung into the engine's furnace before Patrolman Chandler reissued from the door which he had entered.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
reissuedverbUS /riˈɪʃuːd/
past form of “reissue” — print anew
From this reading The hydrant cover had been thrown off and the first block of coal flung into the engine's furnace before Patrolman Chandler reissued from the door which he had entered.
responsenounUS /rɪˈspɑːns/
a result
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
roundingnounUS /ˈraʊndɪŋ/
(mathematics) a miscalculation that results from rounding off numbers to a convenient number of decimals
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
sleepersnounUS /ˈsliːpərz/
plural of “sleeper” — a rester who is sleeping
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading But no one stirred inside.
subsideverbUS /səbˈsaɪd/
wear off or die down
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
tardyadjectiveUS /ˈtɑːrdi/
after the expected or usual time; delayed
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading The hydrant cover had been thrown off and the first block of coal flung into the engine's furnace before Patrolman Chandler reissued from the door which he had entered.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
trancenounUS /træns/
a psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
trebleadjectiveUS /ˈtrebəl/
having or denoting a high range
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
uproarnounUS /ˈʌprɔːr/
a state of commotion and noise and confusion
From this reading Just at this moment the tardy bells rang out the number of the box, and almost immediately, as an engine came rounding a distant corner and the great gray horses bounded up the grade, the uproar began to subside.
waked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The hydrant cover had been thrown off and the first block of coal flung into the engine's furnace before Patrolman Chandler reissued from the door which he had entered.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading In response a cry of "Fire!" went up from man, woman and child, bass and treble intermingling, loud enough to have waked the seven sleepers from their trance.
