used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The rain fell with a dull rattle on the galvanized iron roofing, steady, relentless.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading In the tents the little stoves failed to dry the reeking air.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For three days it had been raining in camp, and the roads were mired with brownish red ’dobe mud.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For three days it had been raining in camp, and the roads were mired with brownish red ’dobe mud.
beingsnounUS /ˈbiːɪŋz/
plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing
From this reading The ponies looked miserable, human beings hopeless.
brownishadjectiveUS /ˈbraʊnɪʃ/
of a color similar to that of wood or earth
From this reading For three days it had been raining in camp, and the roads were mired with brownish red ’dobe mud.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading For three days it had been raining in camp, and the roads were mired with brownish red ’dobe mud.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading For three days it had been raining in camp, and the roads were mired with brownish red ’dobe mud.
dirtyadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrti/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading Men tracked into the office, wet and disgusted, their dirty “slickers” dripping little pools of water wherever they stood.
disgustedadjectiveUS /dɪsˈɡʌstəd/
having a strong distaste from surfeit
From this reading Men tracked into the office, wet and disgusted, their dirty “slickers” dripping little pools of water wherever they stood.
dobe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For three days it had been raining in camp, and the roads were mired with brownish red ’dobe mud.
drippingnounUS /ˈdrɪpɪŋ/
a liquid (as water) that flows in drops (as from the eaves of house)
From this reading Men tracked into the office, wet and disgusted, their dirty “slickers” dripping little pools of water wherever they stood.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading In the tents the little stoves failed to dry the reeking air.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading The rain fell with a dull rattle on the galvanized iron roofing, steady, relentless.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading In the tents the little stoves failed to dry the reeking air.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The rain fell with a dull rattle on the galvanized iron roofing, steady, relentless.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For three days it had been raining in camp, and the roads were mired with brownish red ’dobe mud.
galvanizedverbUS /ˈɡælvənaɪzd/
past form of “galvanize” — to stimulate to action
From this reading The rain fell with a dull rattle on the galvanized iron roofing, steady, relentless.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For three days it had been raining in camp, and the roads were mired with brownish red ’dobe mud.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading The ponies looked miserable, human beings hopeless.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading The ponies looked miserable, human beings hopeless.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For three days it had been raining in camp, and the roads were mired with brownish red ’dobe mud.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Men tracked into the office, wet and disgusted, their dirty “slickers” dripping little pools of water wherever they stood.
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 The rain fell with a dull rattle on the galvanized iron roofing, steady, relentless.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For three days it had been raining in camp, and the roads were mired with brownish red ’dobe mud.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In the tents the little stoves failed to dry the reeking air.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The ponies looked miserable, human beings hopeless.
the force of workers available
From this reading Men tracked into the office, wet and disgusted, their dirty “slickers” dripping little pools of water wherever they stood.
miredadjectiveUS /maɪrd/
entangled or hindered as if e.g. in mire
From this reading For three days it had been raining in camp, and the roads were mired with brownish red ’dobe mud.
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading The ponies looked miserable, human beings hopeless.
water soaked soil; soft wet earth
From this reading For three days it had been raining in camp, and the roads were mired with brownish red ’dobe mud.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Men tracked into the office, wet and disgusted, their dirty “slickers” dripping little pools of water wherever they stood.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Men tracked into the office, wet and disgusted, their dirty “slickers” dripping little pools of water wherever they stood.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The rain fell with a dull rattle on the galvanized iron roofing, steady, relentless.
poniesnounUS /ˈpoʊniz/
plural of “pony” — a range horse of the western United States
From this reading The ponies looked miserable, human beings hopeless.
poolsnounUS /puːlz/
plural of “pool” — an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading Men tracked into the office, wet and disgusted, their dirty “slickers” dripping little pools of water wherever they stood.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The rain fell with a dull rattle on the galvanized iron roofing, steady, relentless.
rainingadjectiveUS /ˈreɪnɪŋ/
falling in drops or as if falling like rain
From this reading For three days it had been raining in camp, and the roads were mired with brownish red ’dobe mud.
rattleverbUS /ˈrætəl/
make short successive sounds
From this reading The rain fell with a dull rattle on the galvanized iron roofing, steady, relentless.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading For three days it had been raining in camp, and the roads were mired with brownish red ’dobe mud.
reekingadjectiveUS /ˈriːkɪŋ/
wet with secreted or exuded moisture such as sweat or tears
From this reading In the tents the little stoves failed to dry the reeking air.
relentlessadjectiveUS /rɪˈlentlɪs/
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading The rain fell with a dull rattle on the galvanized iron roofing, steady, relentless.
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading For three days it had been raining in camp, and the roads were mired with brownish red ’dobe mud.
roofingnounUS /ˈruːfɪŋ/
material used to construct a roof
From this reading The rain fell with a dull rattle on the galvanized iron roofing, steady, relentless.
slickersnounUS /ˈslɪkərz/
plural of “slicker” — a macintosh made from cotton fabric treated with oil and pigment to make it waterproof
From this reading Men tracked into the office, wet and disgusted, their dirty “slickers” dripping little pools of water wherever they stood.
make steady
From this reading The rain fell with a dull rattle on the galvanized iron roofing, steady, relentless.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Men tracked into the office, wet and disgusted, their dirty “slickers” dripping little pools of water wherever they stood.
stovesnounUS /stoʊvz/
plural of “stove” — a kitchen appliance used for cooking food
From this reading In the tents the little stoves failed to dry the reeking air.
tentsnounUS /tents/
plural of “tent” — a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading In the tents the little stoves failed to dry the reeking air.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For three days it had been raining in camp, and the roads were mired with brownish red ’dobe mud.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Men tracked into the office, wet and disgusted, their dirty “slickers” dripping little pools of water wherever they stood.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Men tracked into the office, wet and disgusted, their dirty “slickers” dripping little pools of water wherever they stood.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading For three days it had been raining in camp, and the roads were mired with brownish red ’dobe mud.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the tents the little stoves failed to dry the reeking air.
trackedadjectiveUS /trækt/
having tracks
From this reading Men tracked into the office, wet and disgusted, their dirty “slickers” dripping little pools of water wherever they stood.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Men tracked into the office, wet and disgusted, their dirty “slickers” dripping little pools of water wherever they stood.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For three days it had been raining in camp, and the roads were mired with brownish red ’dobe mud.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading Men tracked into the office, wet and disgusted, their dirty “slickers” dripping little pools of water wherever they stood.
in or to any place at all
From this reading Men tracked into the office, wet and disgusted, their dirty “slickers” dripping little pools of water wherever they stood.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For three days it had been raining in camp, and the roads were mired with brownish red ’dobe mud.
