used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At three o'clock on the morning of Ash Wednesday the great white Maison Blanche building was deserted and desolate, so far as its offices were concerned.
approachesnounUS /əˈproʊtʃəz/
plural of “approach” — ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading At three o'clock on the morning of Ash Wednesday the great white Maison Blanche building was deserted and desolate, so far as its offices were concerned.
AshnounUS /æʃ/
the residue that remains when something is burned
From this reading At three o'clock on the morning of Ash Wednesday the great white Maison Blanche building was deserted and desolate, so far as its offices were concerned.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
BayounounUS /ˈbaɪuː/
a swampy arm or slow-moving outlet of a lake (term used mainly in Mississippi and Louisiana)
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
Blanche
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o'clock on the morning of Ash Wednesday the great white Maison Blanche building was deserted and desolate, so far as its offices were concerned.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
carnivalnounUS /ˈkɑːrnəvəl/
a festival marked by merrymaking and processions
From this reading Out in the streets the tag-ends of carnival were running on a swiftly ebbing tide.
cleanersnounUS /ˈkliːnərz/
shop where dry cleaning is done
From this reading The cleaners and scrub-women had long since finished their tasks and departed.
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading At three o'clock on the morning of Ash Wednesday the great white Maison Blanche building was deserted and desolate, so far as its offices were concerned.
definitionnounUS /ˌdefəˈnɪʃən/
a concise explanation of the meaning of a word or phrase or symbol
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
well in the past; former
From this reading The cleaners and scrub-women had long since finished their tasks and departed.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading At three o'clock on the morning of Ash Wednesday the great white Maison Blanche building was deserted and desolate, so far as its offices were concerned.
desolateadjectiveUS /ˈdesələt/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
ebbingnounUS /ˈebɪŋ/
a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number)
From this reading Out in the streets the tag-ends of carnival were running on a swiftly ebbing tide.
elevatornounUS /ˈeləveɪtər/
lifting device consisting of a platform or cage that is raised and lowered mechanically in a vertical shaft in order to move people from one floor to another in a building
From this reading A single elevator in the building was, however, in use.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading At three o'clock on the morning of Ash Wednesday the great white Maison Blanche building was deserted and desolate, so far as its offices were concerned.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading The cleaners and scrub-women had long since finished their tasks and departed.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The cleaners and scrub-women had long since finished their tasks and departed.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading A single elevator in the building was, however, in use.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading At three o'clock on the morning of Ash Wednesday the great white Maison Blanche building was deserted and desolate, so far as its offices were concerned.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The cleaners and scrub-women had long since finished their tasks and departed.
Maison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o'clock on the morning of Ash Wednesday the great white Maison Blanche building was deserted and desolate, so far as its offices were concerned.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
used to form the superlative
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At three o'clock on the morning of Ash Wednesday the great white Maison Blanche building was deserted and desolate, so far as its offices were concerned.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
officesnounUS /ˈɔːfəsəz/
plural of “office” — place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading At three o'clock on the morning of Ash Wednesday the great white Maison Blanche building was deserted and desolate, so far as its offices were concerned.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Out in the streets the tag-ends of carnival were running on a swiftly ebbing tide.
by chance
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading Out in the streets the tag-ends of carnival were running on a swiftly ebbing tide.
scrub-women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cleaners and scrub-women had long since finished their tasks and departed.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading The cleaners and scrub-women had long since finished their tasks and departed.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading A single elevator in the building was, however, in use.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading At three o'clock on the morning of Ash Wednesday the great white Maison Blanche building was deserted and desolate, so far as its offices were concerned.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Out in the streets the tag-ends of carnival were running on a swiftly ebbing tide.
in a swift manner
From this reading Out in the streets the tag-ends of carnival were running on a swiftly ebbing tide.
tag-ends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out in the streets the tag-ends of carnival were running on a swiftly ebbing tide.
tasksnounUS /tæsks/
plural of “task” — any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading The cleaners and scrub-women had long since finished their tasks and departed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The cleaners and scrub-women had long since finished their tasks and departed.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading Out in the streets the tag-ends of carnival were running on a swiftly ebbing tide.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
the act of using
From this reading A single elevator in the building was, however, in use.
precisely as stated
From this reading _On The Bayou_ At three o'clock in the morning a great office building is not the most desolate place on earth, perhaps; but it approaches very closely to that definition.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At three o'clock on the morning of Ash Wednesday the great white Maison Blanche building was deserted and desolate, so far as its offices were concerned.
WednesdaynounUS /ˈwenzdi/
the fourth day of the week; the third working day
From this reading At three o'clock on the morning of Ash Wednesday the great white Maison Blanche building was deserted and desolate, so far as its offices were concerned.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At three o'clock on the morning of Ash Wednesday the great white Maison Blanche building was deserted and desolate, so far as its offices were concerned.
a Caucasian
From this reading At three o'clock on the morning of Ash Wednesday the great white Maison Blanche building was deserted and desolate, so far as its offices were concerned.
