used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At the head of a bare deal table, set on a dais at one end of the cellar, stood Madame Death-in-Life.
in actual fact
From this reading The low roof was actually the concrete floor of the basement.
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 This subterranean place of congress comprised the whole area of the building.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the head of a bare deal table, set on a dais at one end of the cellar, stood Madame Death-in-Life.
completely unclothed
From this reading At the head of a bare deal table, set on a dais at one end of the cellar, stood Madame Death-in-Life.
basementnounUS /ˈbeɪsmənt/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading The low roof was actually the concrete floor of the basement.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Excavations had been made, indeed, extending some way below the street.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Excavations had been made, indeed, extending some way below the street.
bricked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were bricked in with stones, rough whitewashed.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading This subterranean place of congress comprised the whole area of the building.
cellarnounUS /ˈselər/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading At the head of a bare deal table, set on a dais at one end of the cellar, stood Madame Death-in-Life.
comprisedverbUS /kəmˈpraɪzd/
past form of “comprise” — be composed of
From this reading This subterranean place of congress comprised the whole area of the building.
concreteadjectiveUS /kənˈkriːt/
capable of being perceived by the senses; not abstract or imaginary
From this reading The low roof was actually the concrete floor of the basement.
congressnounUS /ˈkɑːŋɡrəs/
the legislature of the United States government
From this reading This subterranean place of congress comprised the whole area of the building.
daisnounUS /deɪz/
a platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it
From this reading At the head of a bare deal table, set on a dais at one end of the cellar, stood Madame Death-in-Life.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading At the head of a bare deal table, set on a dais at one end of the cellar, stood Madame Death-in-Life.
Death-in-Life
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the head of a bare deal table, set on a dais at one end of the cellar, stood Madame Death-in-Life.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading At the head of a bare deal table, set on a dais at one end of the cellar, stood Madame Death-in-Life.
ExcavationsnounUS /ˌekskəˈveɪʃənz/
plural of “excavation” — the act of digging
From this reading Excavations had been made, indeed, extending some way below the street.
extendingverbUS /ɪkˈstendɪŋ/
-ing form of “extend” — extend in scope or range or area
From this reading Excavations had been made, indeed, extending some way below the street.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The low roof was actually the concrete floor of the basement.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Excavations had been made, indeed, extending some way below the street.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading At the head of a bare deal table, set on a dais at one end of the cellar, stood Madame Death-in-Life.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading These were bricked in with stones, rough whitewashed.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Excavations had been made, indeed, extending some way below the street.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The low roof was actually the concrete floor of the basement.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading At the head of a bare deal table, set on a dais at one end of the cellar, stood Madame Death-in-Life.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Excavations had been made, indeed, extending some way below the street.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the head of a bare deal table, set on a dais at one end of the cellar, stood Madame Death-in-Life.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading At the head of a bare deal table, set on a dais at one end of the cellar, stood Madame Death-in-Life.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At the head of a bare deal table, set on a dais at one end of the cellar, stood Madame Death-in-Life.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading This subterranean place of congress comprised the whole area of the building.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading The low roof was actually the concrete floor of the basement.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading These were bricked in with stones, rough whitewashed.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading At the head of a bare deal table, set on a dais at one end of the cellar, stood Madame Death-in-Life.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Excavations had been made, indeed, extending some way below the street.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading These were bricked in with stones, rough whitewashed.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading At the head of a bare deal table, set on a dais at one end of the cellar, stood Madame Death-in-Life.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Excavations had been made, indeed, extending some way below the street.
subterraneanadjectiveUS /ˌsʌb.təˈreɪ.ni.ən/
Existing, occurring, or done under the earth's surface.
From this reading This subterranean place of congress comprised the whole area of the building.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading At the head of a bare deal table, set on a dais at one end of the cellar, stood Madame Death-in-Life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At the head of a bare deal table, set on a dais at one end of the cellar, stood Madame Death-in-Life.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These were bricked in with stones, rough whitewashed.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This subterranean place of congress comprised the whole area of the building.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The low roof was actually the concrete floor of the basement.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Excavations had been made, indeed, extending some way below the street.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These were bricked in with stones, rough whitewashed.
whitewashedadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪtwɑːʃt/
coated with whitewash
From this reading These were bricked in with stones, rough whitewashed.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading This subterranean place of congress comprised the whole area of the building.
in the company of; together with
From this reading These were bricked in with stones, rough whitewashed.
