adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
addressedadjectiveUS /əˈdrest/
(of mail) marked with a destination
From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
advanceverbUS /ədˈvæns/
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.
arrivingverbUS /ərˈaɪvɪŋ/
-ing form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
beginningnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading Meanwhile the floor was beginning to fill up.
busking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
calledverbUS /kɔːld/
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.
clickingverbUS /ˈklɪkɪŋ/
-ing form of “click” — move or strike with a noise
From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
coatsnounUS /koʊts/
plural of “coat” — an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
corridorsnounUS /ˈkɔːrɪdərz/
plural of “corridor” — an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.
crackingnounUS /ˈkrækɪŋ/
a sudden sharp noise
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
cricketnounUS /ˈkrɪkət/
leaping insect; male makes chirping noises by rubbing the forewings together
From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
diligentadjectiveUS /ˈdɪlɪdʒənt/
quietly and steadily persevering especially in detail or exactness
From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
directlyadverbUS /dərˈektli/
without deviation
From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
doorsnounUS /dɔːrz/
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
fillverbUS /fɪl/
make full, also in a metaphorical sense
From this reading Meanwhile the floor was beginning to fill up.
floornounUS /flɔːr/
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Meanwhile the floor was beginning to fill up.
forthadverbUS /fɔːrθ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.
groundnounUS /ɡraʊnd/
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.
groupsnounUS /ɡruːps/
plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.
hatsnounUS /hæts/
plural of “hat” — headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
hereadverbUS /hiːr/
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
hundredsnounUS /ˈhʌndrədz/
plural of “hundred” — ten 10s
From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.
hungverbUS /hʌŋ/
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.
increasingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/
becoming greater or larger
From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.
instrumentsnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənts/
plural of “instrument” — a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.
intermittentadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈmɪtənt/
stopping and starting at irregular intervals
From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
jokesnounUS /dʒoʊks/
plural of “joke” — a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
joshing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
keynounUS /kiː/
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
linennounUS /ˈlɪnən/
a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
matesnounUS /meɪts/
a pair of people who live together
From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
MeanwhileadverbUS /ˈmiːnwaɪl/
at the same time but in another place
From this reading Meanwhile the floor was beginning to fill up.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.
operatorsnounUS /ˈɑːpəreɪtərz/
plural of “operator” — (mathematics) a symbol or function representing a mathematical operation
From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.
pegsnounUS /peɡz/
plural of “peg” — a wooden pin pushed or driven into a surface
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
pitnounUS /pɪt/
A large hole in the ground, or an abyss of darkness and peril.
From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.
placenounUS /pleɪs/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.
railed-in
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.
seatsnounUS /siːts/
an area that includes places where several people can sit
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
shirt-sleeves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
SomeadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
southnounUS /saʊθ/
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.
spacenounUS /speɪs/
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.
tablesnounUS /ˈteɪbəlz/
plural of “table” — a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
telegraphnounUS /ˈteləɡræf/
apparatus used to communicate at a distance over a wire (usually in Morse code)
From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Meanwhile the floor was beginning to fill up.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
threesnounUS /θriːz/
plural of “three” — the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Meanwhile the floor was beginning to fill up.
tradersnounUS /ˈtreɪdərz/
plural of “trader” — someone who purchases and maintains an inventory of goods to be sold
From this reading From the corridors on the ground floor up through the south doors came the pit traders in increasing groups.
twosnounUS /tuːz/
plural of “two” — the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.
ulsters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Meanwhile the floor was beginning to fill up.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
wallnounUS /wɔːl/
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Meanwhile the floor was beginning to fill up.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They hung their hats and ulsters upon the pegs in the wall back of them, and in linen coats, or in their shirt-sleeves, went to their seats, or, sitting upon their tables, called back and forth to each other, joshing, cracking jokes.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Over in the railed-in space, where the hundreds of telegraph instruments were in place, the operators were arriving in twos and threes.
workverbUS /wɜːrk/
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Some few addressed themselves directly to work, and here and there the intermittent clicking of a key began, like a diligent cricket busking himself in advance of its mates.
