used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading These were much smaller, and so thin that their bones seemed almost ready to break through the skin.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading We had not our shed always to ourselves.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I call them human creatures, for they certainly were not men; they were so different from the tall powerful fellows whom I had occasionally seen at their work in the warehouse.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance
From this reading These were much smaller, and so thin that their bones seemed almost ready to break through the skin.
terminate
From this reading These were much smaller, and so thin that their bones seemed almost ready to break through the skin.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading I call them human creatures, for they certainly were not men; they were so different from the tall powerful fellows whom I had occasionally seen at their work in the warehouse.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading I call them human creatures, for they certainly were not men; they were so different from the tall powerful fellows whom I had occasionally seen at their work in the warehouse.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
cowered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading I call them human creatures, for they certainly were not men; they were so different from the tall powerful fellows whom I had occasionally seen at their work in the warehouse.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
drizzlingadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪzəlɪŋ/
(of rain) falling lightly in very small drops
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
plural of “fellow” — a boy or man
From this reading I call them human creatures, for they certainly were not men; they were so different from the tall powerful fellows whom I had occasionally seen at their work in the warehouse.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I call them human creatures, for they certainly were not men; they were so different from the tall powerful fellows whom I had occasionally seen at their work in the warehouse.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I call them human creatures, for they certainly were not men; they were so different from the tall powerful fellows whom I had occasionally seen at their work in the warehouse.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had not our shed always to ourselves.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I call them human creatures, for they certainly were not men; they were so different from the tall powerful fellows whom I had occasionally seen at their work in the warehouse.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
the force of workers available
From this reading I call them human creatures, for they certainly were not men; they were so different from the tall powerful fellows whom I had occasionally seen at their work in the warehouse.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading These were much smaller, and so thin that their bones seemed almost ready to break through the skin.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading We had not our shed always to ourselves.
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading I call them human creatures, for they certainly were not men; they were so different from the tall powerful fellows whom I had occasionally seen at their work in the warehouse.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We had not our shed always to ourselves.
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading We had not our shed always to ourselves.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
POORERadjectiveUS /ˈpuːrər/
comparative of “poor” — deserving or inciting pity
From this reading POORER THAN RATS.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading I call them human creatures, for they certainly were not men; they were so different from the tall powerful fellows whom I had occasionally seen at their work in the warehouse.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
RATSnounUS /ræts/
plural of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading POORER THAN RATS.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading These were much smaller, and so thin that their bones seemed almost ready to break through the skin.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading These were much smaller, and so thin that their bones seemed almost ready to break through the skin.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I call them human creatures, for they certainly were not men; they were so different from the tall powerful fellows whom I had occasionally seen at their work in the warehouse.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
get rid of
From this reading We had not our shed always to ourselves.
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading These were much smaller, and so thin that their bones seemed almost ready to break through the skin.
small or little relative to something else
From this reading These were much smaller, and so thin that their bones seemed almost ready to break through the skin.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I call them human creatures, for they certainly were not men; they were so different from the tall powerful fellows whom I had occasionally seen at their work in the warehouse.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading I call them human creatures, for they certainly were not men; they were so different from the tall powerful fellows whom I had occasionally seen at their work in the warehouse.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading POORER THAN RATS.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading These were much smaller, and so thin that their bones seemed almost ready to break through the skin.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I call them human creatures, for they certainly were not men; they were so different from the tall powerful fellows whom I had occasionally seen at their work in the warehouse.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I call them human creatures, for they certainly were not men; they were so different from the tall powerful fellows whom I had occasionally seen at their work in the warehouse.
in or at that place or location
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These were much smaller, and so thin that their bones seemed almost ready to break through the skin.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I call them human creatures, for they certainly were not men; they were so different from the tall powerful fellows whom I had occasionally seen at their work in the warehouse.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading These were much smaller, and so thin that their bones seemed almost ready to break through the skin.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading These were much smaller, and so thin that their bones seemed almost ready to break through the skin.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We had not our shed always to ourselves.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
warehousenounUS /ˈwerhaʊs/
a storehouse for goods and merchandise
From this reading I call them human creatures, for they certainly were not men; they were so different from the tall powerful fellows whom I had occasionally seen at their work in the warehouse.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We had not our shed always to ourselves.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I call them human creatures, for they certainly were not men; they were so different from the tall powerful fellows whom I had occasionally seen at their work in the warehouse.
at the time that
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I call them human creatures, for they certainly were not men; they were so different from the tall powerful fellows whom I had occasionally seen at their work in the warehouse.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading One cold evening in autumn, when there was a sharp east wind, and a drizzling rain, two human creatures came into the place and cowered down in a corner of our shed.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading I call them human creatures, for they certainly were not men; they were so different from the tall powerful fellows whom I had occasionally seen at their work in the warehouse.
