used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NIGHT IN JANUARY.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Next morning, when Selwyn left his hotel, a few desultory snowflakes were falling through the air, and moistly expiring on the asphalt pavements.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Next morning, when Selwyn left his hotel, a few desultory snowflakes were falling through the air, and moistly expiring on the asphalt pavements.
subject to appointment
From this reading It lacked a few minutes of nine, and the thousands who man the machinery of New York's business were hurrying to their appointed places.
asphaltnounUS /ˈæsfɔːlt/
mixed asphalt and crushed gravel or sand; used especially for paving but also for roofing
From this reading Next morning, when Selwyn left his hotel, a few desultory snowflakes were falling through the air, and moistly expiring on the asphalt pavements.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading It lacked a few minutes of nine, and the thousands who man the machinery of New York's business were hurrying to their appointed places.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading People who had to catch trains were hurrying to stations; and people who had nowhere to go were hurrying still faster.
desultoryadjectiveUS /ˈdesəltɔːri/
marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose; jumping from one thing to another
From this reading Next morning, when Selwyn left his hotel, a few desultory snowflakes were falling through the air, and moistly expiring on the asphalt pavements.
expiringverbUS /ɪkˈspaɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “expire” — lose validity
From this reading Next morning, when Selwyn left his hotel, a few desultory snowflakes were falling through the air, and moistly expiring on the asphalt pavements.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading Next morning, when Selwyn left his hotel, a few desultory snowflakes were falling through the air, and moistly expiring on the asphalt pavements.
fasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/
more quickly
From this reading People who had to catch trains were hurrying to stations; and people who had nowhere to go were hurrying still faster.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Next morning, when Selwyn left his hotel, a few desultory snowflakes were falling through the air, and moistly expiring on the asphalt pavements.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading People who had to catch trains were hurrying to stations; and people who had nowhere to go were hurrying still faster.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading People who had to catch trains were hurrying to stations; and people who had nowhere to go were hurrying still faster.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Next morning, when Selwyn left his hotel, a few desultory snowflakes were falling through the air, and moistly expiring on the asphalt pavements.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading Next morning, when Selwyn left his hotel, a few desultory snowflakes were falling through the air, and moistly expiring on the asphalt pavements.
hurryingadjectiveUS /ˈhɜːriɪŋ/
moving with great haste
From this reading It lacked a few minutes of nine, and the thousands who man the machinery of New York's business were hurrying to their appointed places.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A NIGHT IN JANUARY.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It lacked a few minutes of nine, and the thousands who man the machinery of New York's business were hurrying to their appointed places.
JANUARYnounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/
the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice
From this reading A NIGHT IN JANUARY.
lackedverbUS /lækt/
past form of “lack” — be without
From this reading It lacked a few minutes of nine, and the thousands who man the machinery of New York's business were hurrying to their appointed places.
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 Next morning, when Selwyn left his hotel, a few desultory snowflakes were falling through the air, and moistly expiring on the asphalt pavements.
machinerynounUS /məˈʃiːnəri/
machines or machine systems collectively
From this reading It lacked a few minutes of nine, and the thousands who man the machinery of New York's business were hurrying to their appointed places.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It lacked a few minutes of nine, and the thousands who man the machinery of New York's business were hurrying to their appointed places.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading It lacked a few minutes of nine, and the thousands who man the machinery of New York's business were hurrying to their appointed places.
moistlyadverb
in a damp manner
From this reading Next morning, when Selwyn left his hotel, a few desultory snowflakes were falling through the air, and moistly expiring on the asphalt pavements.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Next morning, when Selwyn left his hotel, a few desultory snowflakes were falling through the air, and moistly expiring on the asphalt pavements.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading It lacked a few minutes of nine, and the thousands who man the machinery of New York's business were hurrying to their appointed places.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Next morning, when Selwyn left his hotel, a few desultory snowflakes were falling through the air, and moistly expiring on the asphalt pavements.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A NIGHT IN JANUARY.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading It lacked a few minutes of nine, and the thousands who man the machinery of New York's business were hurrying to their appointed places.
nowherenounUS /ˈnoʊwer/
an insignificant place
From this reading People who had to catch trains were hurrying to stations; and people who had nowhere to go were hurrying still faster.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It lacked a few minutes of nine, and the thousands who man the machinery of New York's business were hurrying to their appointed places.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Next morning, when Selwyn left his hotel, a few desultory snowflakes were falling through the air, and moistly expiring on the asphalt pavements.
pavementsnounUS /ˈpeɪvmənts/
plural of “pavement” — the paved surface of a thoroughfare
From this reading Next morning, when Selwyn left his hotel, a few desultory snowflakes were falling through the air, and moistly expiring on the asphalt pavements.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading People who had to catch trains were hurrying to stations; and people who had nowhere to go were hurrying still faster.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It lacked a few minutes of nine, and the thousands who man the machinery of New York's business were hurrying to their appointed places.
Selwyn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next morning, when Selwyn left his hotel, a few desultory snowflakes were falling through the air, and moistly expiring on the asphalt pavements.
snowflakesnounUS /ˈsnoʊfleɪks/
plural of “snowflake” — a crystal of snow
From this reading Next morning, when Selwyn left his hotel, a few desultory snowflakes were falling through the air, and moistly expiring on the asphalt pavements.
stationsnounUS /ˈsteɪʃənz/
(Roman Catholic Church) a devotion consisting of fourteen prayers said before a series of fourteen pictures or carvings representing successive incidents during Jesus' passage from Pilate's house to his crucifixion at Calvary
From this reading People who had to catch trains were hurrying to stations; and people who had nowhere to go were hurrying still faster.
not in physical motion
From this reading People who had to catch trains were hurrying to stations; and people who had nowhere to go were hurrying still faster.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Next morning, when Selwyn left his hotel, a few desultory snowflakes were falling through the air, and moistly expiring on the asphalt pavements.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It lacked a few minutes of nine, and the thousands who man the machinery of New York's business were hurrying to their appointed places.
plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading It lacked a few minutes of nine, and the thousands who man the machinery of New York's business were hurrying to their appointed places.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Next morning, when Selwyn left his hotel, a few desultory snowflakes were falling through the air, and moistly expiring on the asphalt pavements.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It lacked a few minutes of nine, and the thousands who man the machinery of New York's business were hurrying to their appointed places.
trainsnounUS /treɪnz/
plural of “train” — public transport provided by a line of railway cars coupled together and drawn by a locomotive
From this reading People who had to catch trains were hurrying to stations; and people who had nowhere to go were hurrying still faster.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Next morning, when Selwyn left his hotel, a few desultory snowflakes were falling through the air, and moistly expiring on the asphalt pavements.
at the time that
From this reading Next morning, when Selwyn left his hotel, a few desultory snowflakes were falling through the air, and moistly expiring on the asphalt pavements.
which person or people
From this reading It lacked a few minutes of nine, and the thousands who man the machinery of New York's business were hurrying to their appointed places.
York'snounUS /jɔːrks/
possessive form of “york” — the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading It lacked a few minutes of nine, and the thousands who man the machinery of New York's business were hurrying to their appointed places.
