used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The boys passed a sleepless night in a none too clean cell.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading To keep their spirits up, they tried to make light of the affair.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A sentry paced up and down in front of the bars, as if they stood committed for some heinous offense.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A sentry paced up and down in front of the bars, as if they stood committed for some heinous offense.
barsnounUS /bɑːrz/
gymnastic apparatus consisting of two parallel wooden rods supported on uprights
From this reading A sentry paced up and down in front of the bars, as if they stood committed for some heinous offense.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But in that dreary place, with the stone-flagged floor and the steel grating, it was pretty hard to be lively.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys passed a sleepless night in a none too clean cell.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But in that dreary place, with the stone-flagged floor and the steel grating, it was pretty hard to be lively.
cellnounUS /sel/
A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.
From this reading The boys passed a sleepless night in a none too clean cell.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading The boys passed a sleepless night in a none too clean cell.
bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude
From this reading A sentry paced up and down in front of the bars, as if they stood committed for some heinous offense.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A sentry paced up and down in front of the bars, as if they stood committed for some heinous offense.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading But in that dreary place, with the stone-flagged floor and the steel grating, it was pretty hard to be lively.
DURANCEnoun
imprisonment (especially for a long time)
From this reading IN DURANCE VILE.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading But in that dreary place, with the stone-flagged floor and the steel grating, it was pretty hard to be lively.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A sentry paced up and down in front of the bars, as if they stood committed for some heinous offense.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading A sentry paced up and down in front of the bars, as if they stood committed for some heinous offense.
gratingnounUS /ˈɡreɪtɪŋ/
a barrier that has parallel or crossed bars blocking a passage but admitting air
From this reading But in that dreary place, with the stone-flagged floor and the steel grating, it was pretty hard to be lively.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading But in that dreary place, with the stone-flagged floor and the steel grating, it was pretty hard to be lively.
heinousadjectiveUS /ˈheɪnəs/
extremely wicked, deeply criminal
From this reading A sentry paced up and down in front of the bars, as if they stood committed for some heinous offense.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading A sentry paced up and down in front of the bars, as if they stood committed for some heinous offense.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN DURANCE VILE.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But in that dreary place, with the stone-flagged floor and the steel grating, it was pretty hard to be lively.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading To keep their spirits up, they tried to make light of the affair.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading To keep their spirits up, they tried to make light of the affair.
full of life and energy
From this reading But in that dreary place, with the stone-flagged floor and the steel grating, it was pretty hard to be lively.
engage in
From this reading To keep their spirits up, they tried to make light of the affair.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The boys passed a sleepless night in a none too clean cell.
not one, and not any
From this reading The boys passed a sleepless night in a none too clean cell.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A sentry paced up and down in front of the bars, as if they stood committed for some heinous offense.
offensenounUS /əˈfens/
a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings or others
From this reading A sentry paced up and down in front of the bars, as if they stood committed for some heinous offense.
pacedverbUS /peɪst/
past form of “pace” — walk with slow or fast paces
From this reading A sentry paced up and down in front of the bars, as if they stood committed for some heinous offense.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The boys passed a sleepless night in a none too clean cell.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading But in that dreary place, with the stone-flagged floor and the steel grating, it was pretty hard to be lively.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading But in that dreary place, with the stone-flagged floor and the steel grating, it was pretty hard to be lively.
sentrynounUS /ˈsentri/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading A sentry paced up and down in front of the bars, as if they stood committed for some heinous offense.
sleeplessadjectiveUS /ˈsliːpləs/
experiencing or accompanied by sleeplessness
From this reading The boys passed a sleepless night in a none too clean cell.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading A sentry paced up and down in front of the bars, as if they stood committed for some heinous offense.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading To keep their spirits up, they tried to make light of the affair.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading But in that dreary place, with the stone-flagged floor and the steel grating, it was pretty hard to be lively.
stone-flagged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But in that dreary place, with the stone-flagged floor and the steel grating, it was pretty hard to be lively.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading A sentry paced up and down in front of the bars, as if they stood committed for some heinous offense.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But in that dreary place, with the stone-flagged floor and the steel grating, it was pretty hard to be lively.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The boys passed a sleepless night in a none too clean cell.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading To keep their spirits up, they tried to make light of the affair.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A sentry paced up and down in front of the bars, as if they stood committed for some heinous offense.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To keep their spirits up, they tried to make light of the affair.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The boys passed a sleepless night in a none too clean cell.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading To keep their spirits up, they tried to make light of the affair.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A sentry paced up and down in front of the bars, as if they stood committed for some heinous offense.
VILEadjectiveUS /vaɪl/
morally reprehensible
From this reading IN DURANCE VILE.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But in that dreary place, with the stone-flagged floor and the steel grating, it was pretty hard to be lively.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But in that dreary place, with the stone-flagged floor and the steel grating, it was pretty hard to be lively.
