used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
abreastadjectiveUS /əˈbrest/
being up to particular standard or level especially in being up to date in knowledge
From this reading Yet they somehow went down almost three abreast.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Yet they somehow went down almost three abreast.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading The crowd was like a turbulent water forcing itself through one tiny outlet.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading It was a difficult and painful operation.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
exertionsnounUS /ɪɡˈzɜːrʃənz/
plural of “exertion” — use of physical or mental energy; hard work
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
make full, also in a metaphorical sense
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
forcingverbUS /ˈfɔːrsɪŋ/
-ing form of “force” — to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means
From this reading The crowd was like a turbulent water forcing itself through one tiny outlet.
franticadjectiveUS /ˈfræntɪk/
excessively agitated; distraught with fear or other violent emotion
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a difficult and painful operation.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The crowd was like a turbulent water forcing itself through one tiny outlet.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The crowd was like a turbulent water forcing itself through one tiny outlet.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
the force of workers available
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
narrownessnounUS /ˈneroʊnəs/
the property of being narrow; having little width
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
and nothing more
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
operationnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃən/
the state of being in effect or being operative
From this reading It was a difficult and painful operation.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
outletnounUS /ˈaʊtlet/
a place of business for retailing goods
From this reading The crowd was like a turbulent water forcing itself through one tiny outlet.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading It was a difficult and painful operation.
pavementsnounUS /ˈpeɪvmənts/
plural of “pavement” — the paved surface of a thoroughfare
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
housing available for people to live in
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading Yet they somehow went down almost three abreast.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Yet they somehow went down almost three abreast.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Yet they somehow went down almost three abreast.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The crowd was like a turbulent water forcing itself through one tiny outlet.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
very small
From this reading The crowd was like a turbulent water forcing itself through one tiny outlet.
turbulentadjectiveUS /ˈtɜːrbjələnt/
characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination
From this reading The crowd was like a turbulent water forcing itself through one tiny outlet.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The crowd was like a turbulent water forcing itself through one tiny outlet.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Yet they somehow went down almost three abreast.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
at the time that
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading When the door below was opened, a thick stream of men forced a way down the stairs, which were of an extraordinary narrowness, and seemed only wide enough for one at a time.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The men in the rear, excited by the success of the others, made frantic exertions, for it seemed that this large band would more than fill the quarters, and that many would be left upon the pavements.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet they somehow went down almost three abreast.
