used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was an ordinary shallow tin box, such as a business man might keep odds and ends of papers and cash in.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After trying to unlock this with every key they could find in the house, and without success, young Joe produced a file, and with this filed through the small staple in the box.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an ordinary shallow tin box, such as a business man might keep odds and ends of papers and cash in.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was an ordinary shallow tin box, such as a business man might keep odds and ends of papers and cash in.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading When the cover was thrown back there was disclosed a layer of fine cotton, like jewellers’ cotton, and when this was lifted out there came from the box a myriad of tiny flashes of light.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading It was an ordinary shallow tin box, such as a business man might keep odds and ends of papers and cash in.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When the cover was thrown back there was disclosed a layer of fine cotton, like jewellers’ cotton, and when this was lifted out there came from the box a myriad of tiny flashes of light.
cashnounUS /kæʃ/
money in the form of bills or coins
From this reading It was an ordinary shallow tin box, such as a business man might keep odds and ends of papers and cash in.
a small house with a single story
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
cottonnounUS /ˈkɑːtən/
soft silky fibers from cotton plants in their raw state
From this reading When the cover was thrown back there was disclosed a layer of fine cotton, like jewellers’ cotton, and when this was lifted out there came from the box a myriad of tiny flashes of light.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading After trying to unlock this with every key they could find in the house, and without success, young Joe produced a file, and with this filed through the small staple in the box.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading When the cover was thrown back there was disclosed a layer of fine cotton, like jewellers’ cotton, and when this was lifted out there came from the box a myriad of tiny flashes of light.
disclosedadjectiveUS /dɪˈskloʊzd/
made known (especially something secret or concealed)
From this reading When the cover was thrown back there was disclosed a layer of fine cotton, like jewellers’ cotton, and when this was lifted out there came from the box a myriad of tiny flashes of light.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
plural of “end” — either extremity of something that has length
From this reading It was an ordinary shallow tin box, such as a business man might keep odds and ends of papers and cash in.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading After trying to unlock this with every key they could find in the house, and without success, young Joe produced a file, and with this filed through the small staple in the box.
examineverbUS /ɪɡˈzæmɪn/
consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
firmly closed or secured
From this reading It was fastened with a small padlock.
fileverbUS /faɪl/
record in a public office or in a court of law
From this reading After trying to unlock this with every key they could find in the house, and without success, young Joe produced a file, and with this filed through the small staple in the box.
filedverbUS /faɪld/
past form of “file” — record in a public office or in a court of law
From this reading After trying to unlock this with every key they could find in the house, and without success, young Joe produced a file, and with this filed through the small staple in the box.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading After trying to unlock this with every key they could find in the house, and without success, young Joe produced a file, and with this filed through the small staple in the box.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading When the cover was thrown back there was disclosed a layer of fine cotton, like jewellers’ cotton, and when this was lifted out there came from the box a myriad of tiny flashes of light.
flashesnounUS /ˈflæʃɪz/
plural of “flash” — a sudden intense burst of radiant energy
From this reading When the cover was thrown back there was disclosed a layer of fine cotton, like jewellers’ cotton, and when this was lifted out there came from the box a myriad of tiny flashes of light.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading When the cover was thrown back there was disclosed a layer of fine cotton, like jewellers’ cotton, and when this was lifted out there came from the box a myriad of tiny flashes of light.
brought together in one place
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading After trying to unlock this with every key they could find in the house, and without success, young Joe produced a file, and with this filed through the small staple in the box.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an ordinary shallow tin box, such as a business man might keep odds and ends of papers and cash in.
jewellersnounUS /ˈdʒuːələrz/
plural of “jeweller” — someone who makes jewelry
From this reading When the cover was thrown back there was disclosed a layer of fine cotton, like jewellers’ cotton, and when this was lifted out there came from the box a myriad of tiny flashes of light.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After trying to unlock this with every key they could find in the house, and without success, young Joe produced a file, and with this filed through the small staple in the box.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading It was an ordinary shallow tin box, such as a business man might keep odds and ends of papers and cash in.
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 After trying to unlock this with every key they could find in the house, and without success, young Joe produced a file, and with this filed through the small staple in the box.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
layernounUS /ˈleɪər/
single thickness of usually some homogeneous substance
From this reading When the cover was thrown back there was disclosed a layer of fine cotton, like jewellers’ cotton, and when this was lifted out there came from the box a myriad of tiny flashes of light.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
held up in the air
From this reading When the cover was thrown back there was disclosed a layer of fine cotton, like jewellers’ cotton, and when this was lifted out there came from the box a myriad of tiny flashes of light.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading When the cover was thrown back there was disclosed a layer of fine cotton, like jewellers’ cotton, and when this was lifted out there came from the box a myriad of tiny flashes of light.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading When the cover was thrown back there was disclosed a layer of fine cotton, like jewellers’ cotton, and when this was lifted out there came from the box a myriad of tiny flashes of light.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It was an ordinary shallow tin box, such as a business man might keep odds and ends of papers and cash in.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It was an ordinary shallow tin box, such as a business man might keep odds and ends of papers and cash in.
myriadnounUS /ˈmɪriəd/
a large indefinite number
From this reading When the cover was thrown back there was disclosed a layer of fine cotton, like jewellers’ cotton, and when this was lifted out there came from the box a myriad of tiny flashes of light.
oddsnounUS /ɑːdz/
the likelihood of a thing occurring rather than not occurring
From this reading It was an ordinary shallow tin box, such as a business man might keep odds and ends of papers and cash in.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading It was an ordinary shallow tin box, such as a business man might keep odds and ends of papers and cash in.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading When the cover was thrown back there was disclosed a layer of fine cotton, like jewellers’ cotton, and when this was lifted out there came from the box a myriad of tiny flashes of light.
padlocknounUS /ˈpædlɑːk/
a detachable lock; has a hinged shackle that can be passed through the staple of a hasp or the links in a chain and then snapped shut
From this reading It was fastened with a small padlock.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading It was an ordinary shallow tin box, such as a business man might keep odds and ends of papers and cash in.
past form of “proceed” — continue talking
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading After trying to unlock this with every key they could find in the house, and without success, young Joe produced a file, and with this filed through the small staple in the box.
shallowadjectiveUS /ˈʃæloʊ/
lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center
From this reading It was an ordinary shallow tin box, such as a business man might keep odds and ends of papers and cash in.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was fastened with a small padlock.
staplenounUS /ˈsteɪpəl/
(usually in the plural) a necessary commodity for which demand is constant
From this reading After trying to unlock this with every key they could find in the house, and without success, young Joe produced a file, and with this filed through the small staple in the box.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading After trying to unlock this with every key they could find in the house, and without success, young Joe produced a file, and with this filed through the small staple in the box.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It was an ordinary shallow tin box, such as a business man might keep odds and ends of papers and cash in.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
in or at that place or location
From this reading When the cover was thrown back there was disclosed a layer of fine cotton, like jewellers’ cotton, and when this was lifted out there came from the box a myriad of tiny flashes of light.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading After trying to unlock this with every key they could find in the house, and without success, young Joe produced a file, and with this filed through the small staple in the box.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading After trying to unlock this with every key they could find in the house, and without success, young Joe produced a file, and with this filed through the small staple in the box.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading When the cover was thrown back there was disclosed a layer of fine cotton, like jewellers’ cotton, and when this was lifted out there came from the box a myriad of tiny flashes of light.
tinnounUS /tɪn/
a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide
From this reading It was an ordinary shallow tin box, such as a business man might keep odds and ends of papers and cash in.
very small
From this reading When the cover was thrown back there was disclosed a layer of fine cotton, like jewellers’ cotton, and when this was lifted out there came from the box a myriad of tiny flashes of light.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
hard to endure
From this reading After trying to unlock this with every key they could find in the house, and without success, young Joe produced a file, and with this filed through the small staple in the box.
unlockverbUS /ənˈlɑːk/
open the lock of
From this reading After trying to unlock this with every key they could find in the house, and without success, young Joe produced a file, and with this filed through the small staple in the box.
WarrennounUS /ˈwɔːrən/
United States writer and poet (1905-1989)
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was an ordinary shallow tin box, such as a business man might keep odds and ends of papers and cash in.
at the time that
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
window-shades
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the boys had at length gathered around the table in the old-fashioned kitchen of the Warren cottage and had drawn the window-shades, they proceeded to examine the box.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was fastened with a small padlock.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading After trying to unlock this with every key they could find in the house, and without success, young Joe produced a file, and with this filed through the small staple in the box.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading After trying to unlock this with every key they could find in the house, and without success, young Joe produced a file, and with this filed through the small staple in the box.
