used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A maddening task it was.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
apparatusnounUS /ˌæpərˈætəs/
equipment designed to serve a specific function
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading The wreck of the wave-measuring machine once installed in the laboratory, every energy was bent towards putting it into perfect working condition.
the two together, not just one
From this reading But the possibilities which it held entranced both Dorothy and Tom.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Each day I came up to find them working.
a state at a particular time
From this reading The wreck of the wave-measuring machine once installed in the laboratory, every energy was bent towards putting it into perfect working condition.
cornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/
plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Each day I came up to find them working.
Dorothy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the possibilities which it held entranced both Dorothy and Tom.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Each day I came up to find them working.
(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
From this reading The wreck of the wave-measuring machine once installed in the laboratory, every energy was bent towards putting it into perfect working condition.
entrancedadjectiveUS /ɪnˈtrænst/
filled with wonder and delight
From this reading But the possibilities which it held entranced both Dorothy and Tom.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The wreck of the wave-measuring machine once installed in the laboratory, every energy was bent towards putting it into perfect working condition.
finaladjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəl/
occurring at or forming an end or termination
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Each day I came up to find them working.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading But the possibilities which it held entranced both Dorothy and Tom.
hitheradverbUS /ˈhɪðər/
an old word meaning “to this place”
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Each day I came up to find them working.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The wreck of the wave-measuring machine once installed in the laboratory, every energy was bent towards putting it into perfect working condition.
installedverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɔːld/
inflected form of “instal” — set up for use
From this reading The wreck of the wave-measuring machine once installed in the laboratory, every energy was bent towards putting it into perfect working condition.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The wreck of the wave-measuring machine once installed in the laboratory, every energy was bent towards putting it into perfect working condition.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The wreck of the wave-measuring machine once installed in the laboratory, every energy was bent towards putting it into perfect working condition.
laboratorynounUS /ˈlæbrətɔːri/
a workplace for the conduct of scientific research
From this reading The wreck of the wave-measuring machine once installed in the laboratory, every energy was bent towards putting it into perfect working condition.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading The wreck of the wave-measuring machine once installed in the laboratory, every energy was bent towards putting it into perfect working condition.
maddeningadjectiveUS /ˈmædənɪŋ/
extremely annoying or displeasing
From this reading A maddening task it was.
not able to be found
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The wreck of the wave-measuring machine once installed in the laboratory, every energy was bent towards putting it into perfect working condition.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
on one occasion
From this reading The wreck of the wave-measuring machine once installed in the laboratory, every energy was bent towards putting it into perfect working condition.
the local environment
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading The wreck of the wave-measuring machine once installed in the laboratory, every energy was bent towards putting it into perfect working condition.
possibilitiesnounUS /ˌpɑːsəˈbɪlətiz/
plural of “possibility” — a future prospect or potential
From this reading But the possibilities which it held entranced both Dorothy and Tom.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading The wreck of the wave-measuring machine once installed in the laboratory, every energy was bent towards putting it into perfect working condition.
renovationnounUS /ˌrenəˈveɪʃən/
the act of improving by renewing and restoring
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading A maddening task it was.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The wreck of the wave-measuring machine once installed in the laboratory, every energy was bent towards putting it into perfect working condition.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Each day I came up to find them working.
thitheradverbUS /ˈðɪθɜːr/
an old word meaning “to that place”
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Each day I came up to find them working.
male cat
From this reading But the possibilities which it held entranced both Dorothy and Tom.
in the direction of
From this reading The wreck of the wave-measuring machine once installed in the laboratory, every energy was bent towards putting it into perfect working condition.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Each day I came up to find them working.
warehousesnounUS /ˈwerhaʊzɪz/
plural of “warehouse” — a storehouse for goods and merchandise
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The wreck of the wave-measuring machine once installed in the laboratory, every energy was bent towards putting it into perfect working condition.
wave-measuring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wreck of the wave-measuring machine once installed in the laboratory, every energy was bent towards putting it into perfect working condition.
wavingnounUS /ˈweɪvɪŋ/
the act of signaling by a movement of the hand
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But the possibilities which it held entranced both Dorothy and Tom.
wiresnounUS /ˈwaɪərz/
plural of “wire” — ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading Thrown hither and thither in the corners of warehouses, the missing parts and waving broken wires of the apparatus, as it first stood on the laboratory table, gave but little promise of final renovation.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading The wreck of the wave-measuring machine once installed in the laboratory, every energy was bent towards putting it into perfect working condition.
wrecknounUS /rek/
something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation
From this reading The wreck of the wave-measuring machine once installed in the laboratory, every energy was bent towards putting it into perfect working condition.
