used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE BEES AND THE WOULD-BES Men--a swarm of men--a hiveful of men.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading An observer who did not understand would find it all as aimless as the activity of an ant-heap--as puzzling as the slow writhings of a swarm of bees.
aimlessadjectiveUS /ˈeɪmləs/
aimlessly drifting
From this reading An observer who did not understand would find it all as aimless as the activity of an ant-heap--as puzzling as the slow writhings of a swarm of bees.
(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 An observer who did not understand would find it all as aimless as the activity of an ant-heap--as puzzling as the slow writhings of a swarm of bees.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An observer who did not understand would find it all as aimless as the activity of an ant-heap--as puzzling as the slow writhings of a swarm of bees.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE BEES AND THE WOULD-BES Men--a swarm of men--a hiveful of men.
ant-heap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An observer who did not understand would find it all as aimless as the activity of an ant-heap--as puzzling as the slow writhings of a swarm of bees.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading An observer who did not understand would find it all as aimless as the activity of an ant-heap--as puzzling as the slow writhings of a swarm of bees.
asidesnounUS /əˈsaɪdz/
plural of “aside” — a line spoken by an actor to the audience but not intended for others on the stage
From this reading Men in knots, in groups, in throngs, pressing together, disintegrating to form new groups, revolving in the slow mass of the herd, shaking hands, crying greetings, mumbling confidential asides.
BEESnounUS /biːz/
plural of “bee” — any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading THE BEES AND THE WOULD-BES Men--a swarm of men--a hiveful of men.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Lobbies, parlors, corridors, stairways of the big hotel packed with men.
blendedadjectiveUS /ˈblendɪd/
combined or mixed together so that the constituent parts are indistinguishable
From this reading Clouds of cigar smoke over all--voices blended into one continual diapason; medley, and miasma of close human contact.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading Clouds of cigar smoke over all--voices blended into one continual diapason; medley, and miasma of close human contact.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Clouds of cigar smoke over all--voices blended into one continual diapason; medley, and miasma of close human contact.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading Clouds of cigar smoke over all--voices blended into one continual diapason; medley, and miasma of close human contact.
confidentialadjectiveUS /ˌkɑːnfəˈdenʃəl/
entrusted with private information and the confidence of another
From this reading Men in knots, in groups, in throngs, pressing together, disintegrating to form new groups, revolving in the slow mass of the herd, shaking hands, crying greetings, mumbling confidential asides.
contactnounUS /ˈkɑːntækt/
close interaction
From this reading Clouds of cigar smoke over all--voices blended into one continual diapason; medley, and miasma of close human contact.
continualadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəl/
recurring regularly or frequently in a prolonged and closely spaced series
From this reading Clouds of cigar smoke over all--voices blended into one continual diapason; medley, and miasma of close human contact.
corridorsnounUS /ˈkɔːrɪdərz/
plural of “corridor” — an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading Lobbies, parlors, corridors, stairways of the big hotel packed with men.
demanding attention
From this reading Men in knots, in groups, in throngs, pressing together, disintegrating to form new groups, revolving in the slow mass of the herd, shaking hands, crying greetings, mumbling confidential asides.
diapasonnoun
either of the two main stops on a pipe organ
From this reading Clouds of cigar smoke over all--voices blended into one continual diapason; medley, and miasma of close human contact.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading An observer who did not understand would find it all as aimless as the activity of an ant-heap--as puzzling as the slow writhings of a swarm of bees.
disintegratingverbUS /dɪˈsɪntəɡreɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “disintegrate” — break into parts or components or lose cohesion or unity
From this reading Men in knots, in groups, in throngs, pressing together, disintegrating to form new groups, revolving in the slow mass of the herd, shaking hands, crying greetings, mumbling confidential asides.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading An observer who did not understand would find it all as aimless as the activity of an ant-heap--as puzzling as the slow writhings of a swarm of bees.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading Men in knots, in groups, in throngs, pressing together, disintegrating to form new groups, revolving in the slow mass of the herd, shaking hands, crying greetings, mumbling confidential asides.
greetingsnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋz/
plural of “greeting” — (usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading Men in knots, in groups, in throngs, pressing together, disintegrating to form new groups, revolving in the slow mass of the herd, shaking hands, crying greetings, mumbling confidential asides.
groupsnounUS /ɡruːps/
plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading Men in knots, in groups, in throngs, pressing together, disintegrating to form new groups, revolving in the slow mass of the herd, shaking hands, crying greetings, mumbling confidential asides.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Men in knots, in groups, in throngs, pressing together, disintegrating to form new groups, revolving in the slow mass of the herd, shaking hands, crying greetings, mumbling confidential asides.
herdnounUS /hɜːrd/
a group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans
From this reading Men in knots, in groups, in throngs, pressing together, disintegrating to form new groups, revolving in the slow mass of the herd, shaking hands, crying greetings, mumbling confidential asides.
hiveful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BEES AND THE WOULD-BES Men--a swarm of men--a hiveful of men.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading Lobbies, parlors, corridors, stairways of the big hotel packed with men.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Clouds of cigar smoke over all--voices blended into one continual diapason; medley, and miasma of close human contact.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Men in knots, in groups, in throngs, pressing together, disintegrating to form new groups, revolving in the slow mass of the herd, shaking hands, crying greetings, mumbling confidential asides.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Clouds of cigar smoke over all--voices blended into one continual diapason; medley, and miasma of close human contact.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading An observer who did not understand would find it all as aimless as the activity of an ant-heap--as puzzling as the slow writhings of a swarm of bees.
knotsnounUS /nɑːts/
plural of “knot” — a tight cluster of people or things
From this reading Men in knots, in groups, in throngs, pressing together, disintegrating to form new groups, revolving in the slow mass of the herd, shaking hands, crying greetings, mumbling confidential asides.
LobbiesnounUS /ˈlɑːbiz/
plural of “lobby” — a large entrance or reception room or area
From this reading Lobbies, parlors, corridors, stairways of the big hotel packed with men.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading Men in knots, in groups, in throngs, pressing together, disintegrating to form new groups, revolving in the slow mass of the herd, shaking hands, crying greetings, mumbling confidential asides.
medleynounUS /ˈmedli/
a musical composition consisting of a series of songs or other musical pieces from various sources
From this reading Clouds of cigar smoke over all--voices blended into one continual diapason; medley, and miasma of close human contact.
the force of workers available
From this reading THE BEES AND THE WOULD-BES Men--a swarm of men--a hiveful of men.
miasmanounUS /miˈæzmə/
an unwholesome atmosphere
From this reading Clouds of cigar smoke over all--voices blended into one continual diapason; medley, and miasma of close human contact.
mumblingnounUS /ˈmʌmbəlɪŋ/
indistinct enunciation
From this reading Men in knots, in groups, in throngs, pressing together, disintegrating to form new groups, revolving in the slow mass of the herd, shaking hands, crying greetings, mumbling confidential asides.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Men in knots, in groups, in throngs, pressing together, disintegrating to form new groups, revolving in the slow mass of the herd, shaking hands, crying greetings, mumbling confidential asides.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading An observer who did not understand would find it all as aimless as the activity of an ant-heap--as puzzling as the slow writhings of a swarm of bees.
observernounUS /əbˈzɜːrvər/
a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses
From this reading An observer who did not understand would find it all as aimless as the activity of an ant-heap--as puzzling as the slow writhings of a swarm of bees.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BEES AND THE WOULD-BES Men--a swarm of men--a hiveful of men.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Clouds of cigar smoke over all--voices blended into one continual diapason; medley, and miasma of close human contact.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Clouds of cigar smoke over all--voices blended into one continual diapason; medley, and miasma of close human contact.
packedadjectiveUS /pækt/
extremely crowed or filled to capacity
From this reading Lobbies, parlors, corridors, stairways of the big hotel packed with men.
parlorsnounUS /ˈpɑːrlərz/
plural of “parlor” — reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading Lobbies, parlors, corridors, stairways of the big hotel packed with men.
the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure
From this reading Men in knots, in groups, in throngs, pressing together, disintegrating to form new groups, revolving in the slow mass of the herd, shaking hands, crying greetings, mumbling confidential asides.
puzzlingadjectiveUS /ˈpʌzəlɪŋ/
not clear to the understanding
From this reading An observer who did not understand would find it all as aimless as the activity of an ant-heap--as puzzling as the slow writhings of a swarm of bees.
revolvingverbUS /riˈvɑːlvɪŋ/
-ing form of “revolve” — turn on or around an axis or a center
From this reading Men in knots, in groups, in throngs, pressing together, disintegrating to form new groups, revolving in the slow mass of the herd, shaking hands, crying greetings, mumbling confidential asides.
the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
From this reading Men in knots, in groups, in throngs, pressing together, disintegrating to form new groups, revolving in the slow mass of the herd, shaking hands, crying greetings, mumbling confidential asides.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading Men in knots, in groups, in throngs, pressing together, disintegrating to form new groups, revolving in the slow mass of the herd, shaking hands, crying greetings, mumbling confidential asides.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading Clouds of cigar smoke over all--voices blended into one continual diapason; medley, and miasma of close human contact.
stairwaysnounUS /ˈsterweɪz/
plural of “stairway” — a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading Lobbies, parlors, corridors, stairways of the big hotel packed with men.
swarmnounUS /swɔːrm/
a moving crowd
From this reading THE BEES AND THE WOULD-BES Men--a swarm of men--a hiveful of men.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BEES AND THE WOULD-BES Men--a swarm of men--a hiveful of men.
throngsnounUS /θrɔːŋz/
plural of “throng” — a large gathering of people
From this reading Men in knots, in groups, in throngs, pressing together, disintegrating to form new groups, revolving in the slow mass of the herd, shaking hands, crying greetings, mumbling confidential asides.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Men in knots, in groups, in throngs, pressing together, disintegrating to form new groups, revolving in the slow mass of the herd, shaking hands, crying greetings, mumbling confidential asides.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Men in knots, in groups, in throngs, pressing together, disintegrating to form new groups, revolving in the slow mass of the herd, shaking hands, crying greetings, mumbling confidential asides.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading An observer who did not understand would find it all as aimless as the activity of an ant-heap--as puzzling as the slow writhings of a swarm of bees.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Clouds of cigar smoke over all--voices blended into one continual diapason; medley, and miasma of close human contact.
which person or people
From this reading An observer who did not understand would find it all as aimless as the activity of an ant-heap--as puzzling as the slow writhings of a swarm of bees.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Lobbies, parlors, corridors, stairways of the big hotel packed with men.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading An observer who did not understand would find it all as aimless as the activity of an ant-heap--as puzzling as the slow writhings of a swarm of bees.
WOULD-BES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BEES AND THE WOULD-BES Men--a swarm of men--a hiveful of men.
writhings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An observer who did not understand would find it all as aimless as the activity of an ant-heap--as puzzling as the slow writhings of a swarm of bees.
