used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STRANGE DISMISSAL When Durgan woke in the sunshine the door had been unlocked and the key removed.
AdamnounUS /ˈædəm/
(Old Testament) in Judeo-Christian mythology; the first man and the husband of Eve and the progenitor of the human race
From this reading Adam and his wife were betimes at their work as day servants.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A STRANGE DISMISSAL When Durgan woke in the sunshine the door had been unlocked and the key removed.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The sisters, and the good cheer they offered, were the same at breakfast as on the former evening; but the incident of the night had disturbed Durgan's feeling of respect.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The sisters, and the good cheer they offered, were the same at breakfast as on the former evening; but the incident of the night had disturbed Durgan's feeling of respect.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A STRANGE DISMISSAL When Durgan woke in the sunshine the door had been unlocked and the key removed.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Durgan shouldered his pick and marched before his men.
betimesadverb
in good time
From this reading Adam and his wife were betimes at their work as day servants.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading The sisters, and the good cheer they offered, were the same at breakfast as on the former evening; but the incident of the night had disturbed Durgan's feeling of respect.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading They had, as commanded, brought two negro laborers for the mine.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The sisters, and the good cheer they offered, were the same at breakfast as on the former evening; but the incident of the night had disturbed Durgan's feeling of respect.
give encouragement to
From this reading The sisters, and the good cheer they offered, were the same at breakfast as on the former evening; but the incident of the night had disturbed Durgan's feeling of respect.
past form of “command” — be in command of
From this reading They had, as commanded, brought two negro laborers for the mine.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Adam and his wife were betimes at their work as day servants.
DISMISSALnounUS /dɪˈsmɪsəl/
a judgment disposing of the matter without a trial
From this reading A STRANGE DISMISSAL When Durgan woke in the sunshine the door had been unlocked and the key removed.
having the place or position changed
From this reading The sisters, and the good cheer they offered, were the same at breakfast as on the former evening; but the incident of the night had disturbed Durgan's feeling of respect.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A STRANGE DISMISSAL When Durgan woke in the sunshine the door had been unlocked and the key removed.
Durgan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STRANGE DISMISSAL When Durgan woke in the sunshine the door had been unlocked and the key removed.
Durgan's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sisters, and the good cheer they offered, were the same at breakfast as on the former evening; but the incident of the night had disturbed Durgan's feeling of respect.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The sisters, and the good cheer they offered, were the same at breakfast as on the former evening; but the incident of the night had disturbed Durgan's feeling of respect.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading The sisters, and the good cheer they offered, were the same at breakfast as on the former evening; but the incident of the night had disturbed Durgan's feeling of respect.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They had, as commanded, brought two negro laborers for the mine.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading The sisters, and the good cheer they offered, were the same at breakfast as on the former evening; but the incident of the night had disturbed Durgan's feeling of respect.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The sisters, and the good cheer they offered, were the same at breakfast as on the former evening; but the incident of the night had disturbed Durgan's feeling of respect.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A STRANGE DISMISSAL When Durgan woke in the sunshine the door had been unlocked and the key removed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Adam and his wife were betimes at their work as day servants.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A STRANGE DISMISSAL When Durgan woke in the sunshine the door had been unlocked and the key removed.
a single distinct event
From this reading The sisters, and the good cheer they offered, were the same at breakfast as on the former evening; but the incident of the night had disturbed Durgan's feeling of respect.
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 A STRANGE DISMISSAL When Durgan woke in the sunshine the door had been unlocked and the key removed.
laborersnounUS /ˈleɪbərərz/
plural of “laborer” — someone who works with their hands; someone engaged in manual labor
From this reading They had, as commanded, brought two negro laborers for the mine.
past form of “march” — march in a procession
From this reading Durgan shouldered his pick and marched before his men.
the force of workers available
From this reading Durgan shouldered his pick and marched before his men.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading They had, as commanded, brought two negro laborers for the mine.
negronounUS /ˈniːɡroʊ/
a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today
From this reading They had, as commanded, brought two negro laborers for the mine.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The sisters, and the good cheer they offered, were the same at breakfast as on the former evening; but the incident of the night had disturbed Durgan's feeling of respect.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sisters, and the good cheer they offered, were the same at breakfast as on the former evening; but the incident of the night had disturbed Durgan's feeling of respect.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading The sisters, and the good cheer they offered, were the same at breakfast as on the former evening; but the incident of the night had disturbed Durgan's feeling of respect.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The sisters, and the good cheer they offered, were the same at breakfast as on the former evening; but the incident of the night had disturbed Durgan's feeling of respect.
select carefully from a group
From this reading Durgan shouldered his pick and marched before his men.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading A STRANGE DISMISSAL When Durgan woke in the sunshine the door had been unlocked and the key removed.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading The sisters, and the good cheer they offered, were the same at breakfast as on the former evening; but the incident of the night had disturbed Durgan's feeling of respect.
Identical; not different.
From this reading The sisters, and the good cheer they offered, were the same at breakfast as on the former evening; but the incident of the night had disturbed Durgan's feeling of respect.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading Adam and his wife were betimes at their work as day servants.
shoulderedadjectiveUS /ˈʃoʊldərd/
having shoulders or shoulders as specified; usually used as a combining form
From this reading Durgan shouldered his pick and marched before his men.
plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading The sisters, and the good cheer they offered, were the same at breakfast as on the former evening; but the incident of the night had disturbed Durgan's feeling of respect.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading A STRANGE DISMISSAL When Durgan woke in the sunshine the door had been unlocked and the key removed.
the rays of the sun
From this reading A STRANGE DISMISSAL When Durgan woke in the sunshine the door had been unlocked and the key removed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A STRANGE DISMISSAL When Durgan woke in the sunshine the door had been unlocked and the key removed.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Adam and his wife were betimes at their work as day servants.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The sisters, and the good cheer they offered, were the same at breakfast as on the former evening; but the incident of the night had disturbed Durgan's feeling of respect.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading They had, as commanded, brought two negro laborers for the mine.
unlockedadjectiveUS /ənˈlɑːkt/
not firmly fastened or secured
From this reading A STRANGE DISMISSAL When Durgan woke in the sunshine the door had been unlocked and the key removed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The sisters, and the good cheer they offered, were the same at breakfast as on the former evening; but the incident of the night had disturbed Durgan's feeling of respect.
at the time that
From this reading A STRANGE DISMISSAL When Durgan woke in the sunshine the door had been unlocked and the key removed.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Adam and his wife were betimes at their work as day servants.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading A STRANGE DISMISSAL When Durgan woke in the sunshine the door had been unlocked and the key removed.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Adam and his wife were betimes at their work as day servants.
