aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading At about every quarter of an hour he would seize the projecting stone and shake it violently.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At about every quarter of an hour he would seize the projecting stone and shake it violently.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Investigations ON the following night, as soon as the bugles sounded "Lights out", Hamerton returned to his labours.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
Barricading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Perhaps he had become hardened to the work, for he imagined that the cement was not so hard or tenacious as it had been when he began operations.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Perhaps he had become hardened to the work, for he imagined that the cement was not so hard or tenacious as it had been when he began operations.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
buglesnounUS /ˈbjuːɡəlz/
plural of “bugle” — a brass instrument without valves; used for military calls and fanfares
From this reading Investigations ON the following night, as soon as the bugles sounded "Lights out", Hamerton returned to his labours.
cementnounUS /səˈment/
concrete pavement is sometimes referred to as cement
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
comparativeadjectiveUS /kəmˈperətɪv/
relating to or based on or involving comparison
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
crackingnounUS /ˈkrækɪŋ/
a sudden sharp noise
From this reading "The cement is cracking," signalled Detroit, who for the last two hours had been lying at full length on the floor feeling for the first decisive tremor of the paving stone.
decisiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈsaɪsɪv/
determining or having the power to determine an outcome
From this reading "The cement is cracking," signalled Detroit, who for the last two hours had been lying at full length on the floor feeling for the first decisive tremor of the paving stone.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
DetroitnounUS /dɪˈtrɔɪt/
the largest city in Michigan and a major Great Lakes port; center of the United States automobile industry; located in southeastern Michigan on the Detroit river across from Windsor
From this reading "The cement is cracking," signalled Detroit, who for the last two hours had been lying at full length on the floor feeling for the first decisive tremor of the paving stone.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
move gently or carefully
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading At about every quarter of an hour he would seize the projecting stone and shake it violently.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading "The cement is cracking," signalled Detroit, who for the last two hours had been lying at full length on the floor feeling for the first decisive tremor of the paving stone.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading "The cement is cracking," signalled Detroit, who for the last two hours had been lying at full length on the floor feeling for the first decisive tremor of the paving stone.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading Investigations ON the following night, as soon as the bugles sounded "Lights out", Hamerton returned to his labours.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Perhaps he had become hardened to the work, for he imagined that the cement was not so hard or tenacious as it had been when he began operations.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading "The cement is cracking," signalled Detroit, who for the last two hours had been lying at full length on the floor feeling for the first decisive tremor of the paving stone.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Perhaps he had become hardened to the work, for he imagined that the cement was not so hard or tenacious as it had been when he began operations.
Hamerton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Investigations ON the following night, as soon as the bugles sounded "Lights out", Hamerton returned to his labours.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Perhaps he had become hardened to the work, for he imagined that the cement was not so hard or tenacious as it had been when he began operations.
hardenedadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdənd/
used of persons; emotionally hardened
From this reading Perhaps he had become hardened to the work, for he imagined that the cement was not so hard or tenacious as it had been when he began operations.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Investigations ON the following night, as soon as the bugles sounded "Lights out", Hamerton returned to his labours.
an opening into or through something
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading At about every quarter of an hour he would seize the projecting stone and shake it violently.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading "The cement is cracking," signalled Detroit, who for the last two hours had been lying at full length on the floor feeling for the first decisive tremor of the paving stone.
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading Perhaps he had become hardened to the work, for he imagined that the cement was not so hard or tenacious as it had been when he began operations.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
InvestigationsnounUS /ˌɪnvestəˈɡeɪʃənz/
plural of “investigation” — an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
From this reading Investigations ON the following night, as soon as the bugles sounded "Lights out", Hamerton returned to his labours.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "The cement is cracking," signalled Detroit, who for the last two hours had been lying at full length on the floor feeling for the first decisive tremor of the paving stone.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At about every quarter of an hour he would seize the projecting stone and shake it violently.
labours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Investigations ON the following night, as soon as the bugles sounded "Lights out", Hamerton returned to his labours.
immediately past
From this reading "The cement is cracking," signalled Detroit, who for the last two hours had been lying at full length on the floor feeling for the first decisive tremor of the paving stone.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading "The cement is cracking," signalled Detroit, who for the last two hours had been lying at full length on the floor feeling for the first decisive tremor of the paving stone.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading Investigations ON the following night, as soon as the bugles sounded "Lights out", Hamerton returned to his labours.
loosenedadjectiveUS /ˈluːsənd/
straightened out
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading "The cement is cracking," signalled Detroit, who for the last two hours had been lying at full length on the floor feeling for the first decisive tremor of the paving stone.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Investigations ON the following night, as soon as the bugles sounded "Lights out", Hamerton returned to his labours.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Perhaps he had become hardened to the work, for he imagined that the cement was not so hard or tenacious as it had been when he began operations.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Investigations ON the following night, as soon as the bugles sounded "Lights out", Hamerton returned to his labours.
operationsnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃənz/
financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records
From this reading Perhaps he had become hardened to the work, for he imagined that the cement was not so hard or tenacious as it had been when he began operations.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Perhaps he had become hardened to the work, for he imagined that the cement was not so hard or tenacious as it had been when he began operations.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Investigations ON the following night, as soon as the bugles sounded "Lights out", Hamerton returned to his labours.
the act of departing politely
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
pavingnounUS /ˈpeɪvɪŋ/
material used to pave an area
From this reading "The cement is cracking," signalled Detroit, who for the last two hours had been lying at full length on the floor feeling for the first decisive tremor of the paving stone.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps he had become hardened to the work, for he imagined that the cement was not so hard or tenacious as it had been when he began operations.
priseverb
to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
projectingadjectiveUS /prəˈdʒektɪŋ/
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading At about every quarter of an hour he would seize the projecting stone and shake it violently.
one of four equal parts
From this reading At about every quarter of an hour he would seize the projecting stone and shake it violently.
renewedadjectiveUS /rɪˈnuːd/
restored to a new condition
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Investigations ON the following night, as soon as the bugles sounded "Lights out", Hamerton returned to his labours.
seizeverbUS /siːz/
take hold of; grab
From this reading At about every quarter of an hour he would seize the projecting stone and shake it violently.
move or cause to move back and forth
From this reading At about every quarter of an hour he would seize the projecting stone and shake it violently.
signalledverbUS /ˈsɪɡnəld/
inflected form of “signal” — communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs
From this reading "The cement is cracking," signalled Detroit, who for the last two hours had been lying at full length on the floor feeling for the first decisive tremor of the paving stone.
slabsnounUS /slæbz/
plural of “slab” — block consisting of a thick piece of something
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Perhaps he had become hardened to the work, for he imagined that the cement was not so hard or tenacious as it had been when he began operations.
in the near future
From this reading Investigations ON the following night, as soon as the bugles sounded "Lights out", Hamerton returned to his labours.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading Investigations ON the following night, as soon as the bugles sounded "Lights out", Hamerton returned to his labours.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
stubbornadjectiveUS /ˈstʌbərn/
tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
tenaciousadjectiveUS /təˈneɪʃəs/
good at remembering
From this reading Perhaps he had become hardened to the work, for he imagined that the cement was not so hard or tenacious as it had been when he began operations.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Perhaps he had become hardened to the work, for he imagined that the cement was not so hard or tenacious as it had been when he began operations.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Investigations ON the following night, as soon as the bugles sounded "Lights out", Hamerton returned to his labours.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Investigations ON the following night, as soon as the bugles sounded "Lights out", Hamerton returned to his labours.
tremornounUS /ˈtremər/
an involuntary vibration (as if from illness or fear)
From this reading "The cement is cracking," signalled Detroit, who for the last two hours had been lying at full length on the floor feeling for the first decisive tremor of the paving stone.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading "The cement is cracking," signalled Detroit, who for the last two hours had been lying at full length on the floor feeling for the first decisive tremor of the paving stone.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
violentlyadverbUS /ˈvaɪələntli/
in a violent manner
From this reading At about every quarter of an hour he would seize the projecting stone and shake it violently.
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 Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Perhaps he had become hardened to the work, for he imagined that the cement was not so hard or tenacious as it had been when he began operations.
at the time that
From this reading Perhaps he had become hardened to the work, for he imagined that the cement was not so hard or tenacious as it had been when he began operations.
which person or people
From this reading "The cement is cracking," signalled Detroit, who for the last two hours had been lying at full length on the floor feeling for the first decisive tremor of the paving stone.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Perhaps he had become hardened to the work, for he imagined that the cement was not so hard or tenacious as it had been when he began operations.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading At about every quarter of an hour he would seize the projecting stone and shake it violently.
wrenchingadjectiveUS /ˈrentʃɪŋ/
causing great physical or mental suffering
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
wriggled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Barricading the door and wrenching up the loosened slabs of stone, he descended beneath the floor, wriggled through the hole in the parting wall with comparative ease, and with renewed energy began to prise away at the stubborn cement.
