used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Inside he gazed through a long vista under a roof lost in tenebrious shadow.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading A crane advanced with the shrill racket of an electric gong, its operator caged in midair, and herculean grappling chains swinging.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
confined by bonds
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
bricknounUS /brɪk/
rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
browsnounUS /braʊz/
plural of “brow” — the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
cagedverbUS /keɪdʒd/
past form of “cage” — confine in a cage
From this reading A crane advanced with the shrill racket of an electric gong, its operator caged in midair, and herculean grappling chains swinging.
chainsnounUS /tʃeɪnz/
metal shackles; for hands or legs
From this reading A crane advanced with the shrill racket of an electric gong, its operator caged in midair, and herculean grappling chains swinging.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
continuousadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəs/
continuing in time or space without interruption
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
craneverbUS /kreɪn/
stretch (the neck) so as to see better
From this reading A crane advanced with the shrill racket of an electric gong, its operator caged in midair, and herculean grappling chains swinging.
dazzlingadjectiveUS /ˈdæzəlɪŋ/
amazingly impressive; suggestive of the flashing of lightning
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
deliberatelyadverbUS /dɪˈlɪbərətli/
with intention; in an intentional manner
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading A crane advanced with the shrill racket of an electric gong, its operator caged in midair, and herculean grappling chains swinging.
emittedverbUS /ɪˈmɪtəd/
inflected form of “emit” — expel (gases or odors)
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
fillingnounUS /ˈfɪlɪŋ/
any material that fills a space or container
From this reading A grinding truck, filling the width of floor, moved forward to where Howat stood.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading A grinding truck, filling the width of floor, moved forward to where Howat stood.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading A grinding truck, filling the width of floor, moved forward to where Howat stood.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
furnacenounUS /ˈfɜːrnəs/
an enclosed chamber in which heat is produced to heat buildings, destroy refuse, smelt or refine ores, etc.
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
furnacesnounUS /ˈfɜːrnʌsɪz/
plural of “furnace” — an enclosed chamber in which heat is produced to heat buildings, destroy refuse, smelt or refine ores, etc.
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Inside he gazed through a long vista under a roof lost in tenebrious shadow.
glarenounUS /ɡler/
a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
gongnounUS /ɡɔːŋ/
a percussion instrument consisting of a metal plate that is struck with a softheaded drumstick
From this reading A crane advanced with the shrill racket of an electric gong, its operator caged in midair, and herculean grappling chains swinging.
grapplingnounUS /ˈɡræplɪŋ/
the act of engaging in close hand-to-hand combat
From this reading A crane advanced with the shrill racket of an electric gong, its operator caged in midair, and herculean grappling chains swinging.
grimyadjectiveUS /ˈɡraɪmi/
thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
grindingnounUS /ˈɡraɪndɪŋ/
material resulting from the process of grinding
From this reading A grinding truck, filling the width of floor, moved forward to where Howat stood.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Inside he gazed through a long vista under a roof lost in tenebrious shadow.
herculeanadjectiveUS /hərˈkjuːliən/
displaying superhuman strength or power
From this reading A crane advanced with the shrill racket of an electric gong, its operator caged in midair, and herculean grappling chains swinging.
Howat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Inside he gazed through a long vista under a roof lost in tenebrious shadow.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading Inside he gazed through a long vista under a roof lost in tenebrious shadow.
intolerableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɑːlərəbəl/
incapable of being tolerated or endured
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A crane advanced with the shrill racket of an electric gong, its operator caged in midair, and herculean grappling chains swinging.
leathernounUS /ˈleðər/
an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
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 Inside he gazed through a long vista under a roof lost in tenebrious shadow.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Inside he gazed through a long vista under a roof lost in tenebrious shadow.
magnitudenounUS /ˈmæɡnətuːd/
the property of relative size or extent (whether large or small)
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
the force of workers available
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
midairnounUS /ˈmɪˈder/
some point in the air; above ground level
From this reading A crane advanced with the shrill racket of an electric gong, its operator caged in midair, and herculean grappling chains swinging.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading A grinding truck, filling the width of floor, moved forward to where Howat stood.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
operatornounUS /ˈɑːpəreɪtər/
(mathematics) a symbol or function representing a mathematical operation
From this reading A crane advanced with the shrill racket of an electric gong, its operator caged in midair, and herculean grappling chains swinging.
proportionnounUS /prəˈpɔːrʃən/
the quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
racketnounUS /ˈrækɪt/
a loud and disturbing noise
From this reading A crane advanced with the shrill racket of an electric gong, its operator caged in midair, and herculean grappling chains swinging.
rangedverbUS /reɪndʒd/
past form of “range” — change or be different within limits
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading Inside he gazed through a long vista under a roof lost in tenebrious shadow.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Inside he gazed through a long vista under a roof lost in tenebrious shadow.
shieldsnounUS /ʃiːldz/
plural of “shield” — a protective covering or structure
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading A crane advanced with the shrill racket of an electric gong, its operator caged in midair, and herculean grappling chains swinging.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
slidesnounUS /slaɪdz/
plural of “slide” — a small flat rectangular piece of glass on which specimens can be mounted for microscopic study
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
spectaclesnounUS /ˈspektəkəlz/
(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading A grinding truck, filling the width of floor, moved forward to where Howat stood.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading A crane advanced with the shrill racket of an electric gong, its operator caged in midair, and herculean grappling chains swinging.
tenebriousadjective
dark and gloomy
From this reading Inside he gazed through a long vista under a roof lost in tenebrious shadow.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Inside he gazed through a long vista under a roof lost in tenebrious shadow.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
trucknounUS /trʌk/
an automotive vehicle suitable for hauling
From this reading A grinding truck, filling the width of floor, moved forward to where Howat stood.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Inside he gazed through a long vista under a roof lost in tenebrious shadow.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
vistanounUS /ˈvɪstə/
the visual percept of a region
From this reading Inside he gazed through a long vista under a roof lost in tenebrious shadow.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
in or at the place that
From this reading A grinding truck, filling the width of floor, moved forward to where Howat stood.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
a Caucasian
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
widthnounUS /wɪdθ/
the extent of something from side to side
From this reading A grinding truck, filling the width of floor, moved forward to where Howat stood.
in the company of; together with
From this reading On one side were ranged the furnaces, a continuous bank of brick bound in iron; each furnace with five doors, closed with black slides in which a round opening emitted an intolerable, dazzling white glare.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
wristsnounUS /rɪsts/
plural of “wrist” — a joint between the distal end of the radius and the proximal row of carpal bones
From this reading But few men, Howat thought, were visible in proportion to the magnitude of the work; deliberately engaged, with leather shields hanging from their wrists and blue spectacles pushed up on their grimy brows.
