used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As for the building, it did not count--a useless old chattel, no longer conforming to modern requirements.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading They said that the ground alone had any value that could be discussed.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading They passed along the corridor and went up even to the attics.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They passed along the corridor and went up even to the attics.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading They said that the ground alone had any value that could be discussed.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As for the building, it did not count--a useless old chattel, no longer conforming to modern requirements.
atticsnounUS /ˈætɪks/
plural of “attic” — floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage
From this reading They passed along the corridor and went up even to the attics.
bargainedverbUS /ˈbɑːrɡənd/
past form of “bargain” — negotiate the terms of an exchange
From this reading Down in the courtyard bleak business voices bargained and depreciated everything.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They said that the ground alone had any value that could be discussed.
bleakadjectiveUS /bliːk/
offering little or no hope
From this reading Down in the courtyard bleak business voices bargained and depreciated everything.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading As for the building, it did not count--a useless old chattel, no longer conforming to modern requirements.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Down in the courtyard bleak business voices bargained and depreciated everything.
marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful
From this reading Strange steps walked through the house, indifferent, careless steps.
chattelnounUS /ˈtʃætəl/
personal as opposed to real property; any tangible movable property (furniture or domestic animals or a car etc)
From this reading As for the building, it did not count--a useless old chattel, no longer conforming to modern requirements.
conformingadjectiveUS /kənˈfɔːrmɪŋ/
adhering to established customs or doctrines (especially in religion)
From this reading As for the building, it did not count--a useless old chattel, no longer conforming to modern requirements.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading They passed along the corridor and went up even to the attics.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They said that the ground alone had any value that could be discussed.
determine the number or amount of
From this reading As for the building, it did not count--a useless old chattel, no longer conforming to modern requirements.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrt.jɑːrd/
An unroofed area that is completely or partially enclosed by the walls of a house.
From this reading Down in the courtyard bleak business voices bargained and depreciated everything.
depreciatedverbUS /dɪˈpriːʃieɪtɪd/
past form of “depreciate” — belittle
From this reading Down in the courtyard bleak business voices bargained and depreciated everything.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading As for the building, it did not count--a useless old chattel, no longer conforming to modern requirements.
discussedverbUS /dɪˈskʌst/
past form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading They said that the ground alone had any value that could be discussed.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Down in the courtyard bleak business voices bargained and depreciated everything.
divisible by two
From this reading They passed along the corridor and went up even to the attics.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Down in the courtyard bleak business voices bargained and depreciated everything.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As for the building, it did not count--a useless old chattel, no longer conforming to modern requirements.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading They said that the ground alone had any value that could be discussed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They said that the ground alone had any value that could be discussed.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Strange steps walked through the house, indifferent, careless steps.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Down in the courtyard bleak business voices bargained and depreciated everything.
indifferentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdɪfrənt/
marked by a lack of interest
From this reading Strange steps walked through the house, indifferent, careless steps.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As for the building, it did not count--a useless old chattel, no longer conforming to modern requirements.
for more time
From this reading As for the building, it did not count--a useless old chattel, no longer conforming to modern requirements.
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading As for the building, it did not count--a useless old chattel, no longer conforming to modern requirements.
not any; not one
From this reading As for the building, it did not count--a useless old chattel, no longer conforming to modern requirements.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As for the building, it did not count--a useless old chattel, no longer conforming to modern requirements.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading As for the building, it did not count--a useless old chattel, no longer conforming to modern requirements.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading They passed along the corridor and went up even to the attics.
requirementsnounUS /rɪˈkwaɪrmənts/
plural of “requirement” — required activity
From this reading As for the building, it did not count--a useless old chattel, no longer conforming to modern requirements.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading They said that the ground alone had any value that could be discussed.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Strange steps walked through the house, indifferent, careless steps.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Strange steps walked through the house, indifferent, careless steps.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They said that the ground alone had any value that could be discussed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Strange steps walked through the house, indifferent, careless steps.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They passed along the corridor and went up even to the attics.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Strange steps walked through the house, indifferent, careless steps.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They passed along the corridor and went up even to the attics.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They passed along the corridor and went up even to the attics.
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading As for the building, it did not count--a useless old chattel, no longer conforming to modern requirements.
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading They said that the ground alone had any value that could be discussed.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Down in the courtyard bleak business voices bargained and depreciated everything.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading Strange steps walked through the house, indifferent, careless steps.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They passed along the corridor and went up even to the attics.
