used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The cases ran from the floor to the ceiling and every available space was stuffed helter skelter with books, books and more books.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
authorsnounUS /ˈɔːθərz/
plural of “author” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading On what subjects could the authors have written?
availableadjectiveUS /əˈveɪləbəl/
obtainable or accessible and ready for use or service
From this reading The cases ran from the floor to the ceiling and every available space was stuffed helter skelter with books, books and more books.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Why, he thought, there must be thousands of books here.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Perhaps the single most frightening thing in the big living room to Comstock was the fact that the walls were solid with books.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading Perhaps the single most frightening thing in the big living room to Comstock was the fact that the walls were solid with books.
plural of “case” — an occurrence of something
From this reading The cases ran from the floor to the ceiling and every available space was stuffed helter skelter with books, books and more books.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading The cases ran from the floor to the ceiling and every available space was stuffed helter skelter with books, books and more books.
ComstocknounUS /ˈkɑːmstɑːk/
United States reformer who led moral crusades against art and literature that he considered obscene (1844-1915)
From this reading Perhaps the single most frightening thing in the big living room to Comstock was the fact that the walls were solid with books.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading On what subjects could the authors have written?
culturenounUS /ˈkʌltʃər/
a particular society at a particular time and place
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
at any time
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The cases ran from the floor to the ceiling and every available space was stuffed helter skelter with books, books and more books.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Perhaps the single most frightening thing in the big living room to Comstock was the fact that the walls were solid with books.
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The cases ran from the floor to the ceiling and every available space was stuffed helter skelter with books, books and more books.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
frighteningadjectiveUS /ˈfraɪtənɪŋ/
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading Perhaps the single most frightening thing in the big living room to Comstock was the fact that the walls were solid with books.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The cases ran from the floor to the ceiling and every available space was stuffed helter skelter with books, books and more books.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading On what subjects could the authors have written?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Why, he thought, there must be thousands of books here.
helter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cases ran from the floor to the ceiling and every available space was stuffed helter skelter with books, books and more books.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Why, he thought, there must be thousands of books here.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Perhaps the single most frightening thing in the big living room to Comstock was the fact that the walls were solid with books.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
a room where books are kept
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading Perhaps the single most frightening thing in the big living room to Comstock was the fact that the walls were solid with books.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The cases ran from the floor to the ceiling and every available space was stuffed helter skelter with books, books and more books.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Perhaps the single most frightening thing in the big living room to Comstock was the fact that the walls were solid with books.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Why, he thought, there must be thousands of books here.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Why, he thought, there must be thousands of books here.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On what subjects could the authors have written?
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
and nothing more
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps the single most frightening thing in the big living room to Comstock was the fact that the walls were solid with books.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The cases ran from the floor to the ceiling and every available space was stuffed helter skelter with books, books and more books.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Perhaps the single most frightening thing in the big living room to Comstock was the fact that the walls were solid with books.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Perhaps the single most frightening thing in the big living room to Comstock was the fact that the walls were solid with books.
skelter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cases ran from the floor to the ceiling and every available space was stuffed helter skelter with books, books and more books.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading Perhaps the single most frightening thing in the big living room to Comstock was the fact that the walls were solid with books.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading The cases ran from the floor to the ceiling and every available space was stuffed helter skelter with books, books and more books.
stuffedadjectiveUS /stʌft/
filled with something
From this reading The cases ran from the floor to the ceiling and every available space was stuffed helter skelter with books, books and more books.
plural of “subject” — the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading On what subjects could the authors have written?
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Perhaps the single most frightening thing in the big living room to Comstock was the fact that the walls were solid with books.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Perhaps the single most frightening thing in the big living room to Comstock was the fact that the walls were solid with books.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Why, he thought, there must be thousands of books here.
a special situation
From this reading Perhaps the single most frightening thing in the big living room to Comstock was the fact that the walls were solid with books.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Why, he thought, there must be thousands of books here.
plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading Why, he thought, there must be thousands of books here.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Perhaps the single most frightening thing in the big living room to Comstock was the fact that the walls were solid with books.
unlikelyadjectiveUS /ənˈlaɪkli/
not likely to be true or to occur or to have occurred
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
plural of “wall” — 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 Perhaps the single most frightening thing in the big living room to Comstock was the fact that the walls were solid with books.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Perhaps the single most frightening thing in the big living room to Comstock was the fact that the walls were solid with books.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Perhaps the single most frightening thing in the big living room to Comstock was the fact that the walls were solid with books.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading In all his life it is highly unlikely that Comstock had ever seen more than ten or fifteen books at one time, and then only in what passed for a library in his culture.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why, he thought, there must be thousands of books here.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Perhaps the single most frightening thing in the big living room to Comstock was the fact that the walls were solid with books.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading On what subjects could the authors have written?
