used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A dozen men were jumping truck loads of boxes here and there.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
anew
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
aimlessnessnoun
the quality of lacking any definite purpose
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading On his way to the car-line Bob stopped to look in at an open door.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A dozen men were jumping truck loads of boxes here and there.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Another man in a peaked cap and a silesia coat, with a pencil behind his ear and a manifold book sticking out of his pocket shouted orders, consulted a long list, marked boxes and scribbled in a shipping book.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading Dim in the background huge freight elevators rose and fell, burdened with the mass of indeterminate things.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Another man in a peaked cap and a silesia coat, with a pencil behind his ear and a manifold book sticking out of his pocket shouted orders, consulted a long list, marked boxes and scribbled in a shipping book.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading On his way to the car-line Bob stopped to look in at an open door.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading Another man in a peaked cap and a silesia coat, with a pencil behind his ear and a manifold book sticking out of his pocket shouted orders, consulted a long list, marked boxes and scribbled in a shipping book.
boxesnounUS /ˈbɑːksəz/
plural of “box” — a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading A dozen men were jumping truck loads of boxes here and there.
burdenedadjectiveUS /ˈbɜːrdənd/
bearing a heavy burden of work or difficulties or responsibilities
From this reading Dim in the background huge freight elevators rose and fell, burdened with the mass of indeterminate things.
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading Another man in a peaked cap and a silesia coat, with a pencil behind his ear and a manifold book sticking out of his pocket shouted orders, consulted a long list, marked boxes and scribbled in a shipping book.
car-line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On his way to the car-line Bob stopped to look in at an open door.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading Another man in a peaked cap and a silesia coat, with a pencil behind his ear and a manifold book sticking out of his pocket shouted orders, consulted a long list, marked boxes and scribbled in a shipping book.
consultedverbUS /kənˈsʌltəd/
past form of “consult” — get or ask advice from
From this reading Another man in a peaked cap and a silesia coat, with a pencil behind his ear and a manifold book sticking out of his pocket shouted orders, consulted a long list, marked boxes and scribbled in a shipping book.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading Dim in the background huge freight elevators rose and fell, burdened with the mass of indeterminate things.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading On his way to the car-line Bob stopped to look in at an open door.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading A dozen men were jumping truck loads of boxes here and there.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Another man in a peaked cap and a silesia coat, with a pencil behind his ear and a manifold book sticking out of his pocket shouted orders, consulted a long list, marked boxes and scribbled in a shipping book.
elevatorsnounUS /ˈeləveɪtərz/
plural of “elevator” — lifting device consisting of a platform or cage that is raised and lowered mechanically in a vertical shaft in order to move people from one floor to another in a building
From this reading Dim in the background huge freight elevators rose and fell, burdened with the mass of indeterminate things.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Dim in the background huge freight elevators rose and fell, burdened with the mass of indeterminate things.
freightnounUS /freɪt/
goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading Dim in the background huge freight elevators rose and fell, burdened with the mass of indeterminate things.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading A dozen men were jumping truck loads of boxes here and there.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading On his way to the car-line Bob stopped to look in at an open door.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Dim in the background huge freight elevators rose and fell, burdened with the mass of indeterminate things.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On his way to the car-line Bob stopped to look in at an open door.
indeterminateadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈtɜːrmɪnɪt/
not precisely determined or established; not fixed or known in advance
From this reading Dim in the background huge freight elevators rose and fell, burdened with the mass of indeterminate things.
insistencenounUS /ˌɪnˈsɪstəns/
continual and persistent demands
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
jumpingnounUS /ˈdʒʌmpɪŋ/
the act of participating in an athletic competition in which you must jump
From this reading A dozen men were jumping truck loads of boxes here and there.
leisurenounUS /ˈleʒər/
time available for ease and relaxation
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of
From this reading Another man in a peaked cap and a silesia coat, with a pencil behind his ear and a manifold book sticking out of his pocket shouted orders, consulted a long list, marked boxes and scribbled in a shipping book.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
loadsnounUS /loʊdz/
a large number or amount
From this reading A dozen men were jumping truck loads of boxes here and there.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Another man in a peaked cap and a silesia coat, with a pencil behind his ear and a manifold book sticking out of his pocket shouted orders, consulted a long list, marked boxes and scribbled in a shipping book.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading On his way to the car-line Bob stopped to look in at an open door.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Another man in a peaked cap and a silesia coat, with a pencil behind his ear and a manifold book sticking out of his pocket shouted orders, consulted a long list, marked boxes and scribbled in a shipping book.
manifoldnounUS /ˈmænəfoʊld/
a pipe that has several lateral outlets to or from other pipes
From this reading Another man in a peaked cap and a silesia coat, with a pencil behind his ear and a manifold book sticking out of his pocket shouted orders, consulted a long list, marked boxes and scribbled in a shipping book.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading Another man in a peaked cap and a silesia coat, with a pencil behind his ear and a manifold book sticking out of his pocket shouted orders, consulted a long list, marked boxes and scribbled in a shipping book.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading Dim in the background huge freight elevators rose and fell, burdened with the mass of indeterminate things.
the force of workers available
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading On his way to the car-line Bob stopped to look in at an open door.
plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Another man in a peaked cap and a silesia coat, with a pencil behind his ear and a manifold book sticking out of his pocket shouted orders, consulted a long list, marked boxes and scribbled in a shipping book.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Another man in a peaked cap and a silesia coat, with a pencil behind his ear and a manifold book sticking out of his pocket shouted orders, consulted a long list, marked boxes and scribbled in a shipping book.
peakedadjectiveUS /piːkt/
somewhat ill or prone to illness
From this reading Another man in a peaked cap and a silesia coat, with a pencil behind his ear and a manifold book sticking out of his pocket shouted orders, consulted a long list, marked boxes and scribbled in a shipping book.
pencilnounUS /ˈpensəl/
a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood
From this reading Another man in a peaked cap and a silesia coat, with a pencil behind his ear and a manifold book sticking out of his pocket shouted orders, consulted a long list, marked boxes and scribbled in a shipping book.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading Another man in a peaked cap and a silesia coat, with a pencil behind his ear and a manifold book sticking out of his pocket shouted orders, consulted a long list, marked boxes and scribbled in a shipping book.
responsibilitynounUS /riˌspɑːnsəˈbɪləti/
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Dim in the background huge freight elevators rose and fell, burdened with the mass of indeterminate things.
scribbledverbUS /ˈskrɪbəld/
past form of “scribble” — write down quickly without much attention to detail
From this reading Another man in a peaked cap and a silesia coat, with a pencil behind his ear and a manifold book sticking out of his pocket shouted orders, consulted a long list, marked boxes and scribbled in a shipping book.
shippingnounUS /ˈʃɪpɪŋ/
the commercial enterprise of moving goods and materials
From this reading Another man in a peaked cap and a silesia coat, with a pencil behind his ear and a manifold book sticking out of his pocket shouted orders, consulted a long list, marked boxes and scribbled in a shipping book.
in a vehement outcry
From this reading Another man in a peaked cap and a silesia coat, with a pencil behind his ear and a manifold book sticking out of his pocket shouted orders, consulted a long list, marked boxes and scribbled in a shipping book.
silesianounUS /sɪˈliːzə/
a region of central Europe rich in deposits of coal and iron ore; annexed by Prussia in 1742 but now largely in Poland
From this reading Another man in a peaked cap and a silesia coat, with a pencil behind his ear and a manifold book sticking out of his pocket shouted orders, consulted a long list, marked boxes and scribbled in a shipping book.
sleepyadjectiveUS /ˈsliːpi/
ready to fall asleep
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
stickingadjectiveUS /ˈstɪkɪŋ/
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading Another man in a peaked cap and a silesia coat, with a pencil behind his ear and a manifold book sticking out of his pocket shouted orders, consulted a long list, marked boxes and scribbled in a shipping book.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading On his way to the car-line Bob stopped to look in at an open door.
stuffyadjectiveUS /ˈstʌfi/
lacking fresh air
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Dim in the background huge freight elevators rose and fell, burdened with the mass of indeterminate things.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On his way to the car-line Bob stopped to look in at an open door.
trucknounUS /trʌk/
an automotive vehicle suitable for hauling
From this reading A dozen men were jumping truck loads of boxes here and there.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading On his way to the car-line Bob stopped to look in at an open door.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A dozen men were jumping truck loads of boxes here and there.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading There it was again, the insistence on the responsibility, the activity, the importance of that sleepy, stuffy little office with its two men at work, its leisure, its aimlessness.
