used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
avoidedverbUS /əˈvɔɪdɪd/
past form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
for the reason that
From this reading It was a small room, not disorderly, because of lack of furnishings to disorder it.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading She turned it up to the best of its flame.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The plaster, discolored by the steam of many wash-days, was crisscrossed with cracks from the big earthquake of the previous spring.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The plaster, discolored by the steam of many wash-days, was crisscrossed with cracks from the big earthquake of the previous spring.
cracksnounUS /kræks/
plural of “crack” — a long narrow opening
From this reading The plaster, discolored by the steam of many wash-days, was crisscrossed with cracks from the big earthquake of the previous spring.
crisscrossedadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪskrɔːst/
marked with crossing lines
From this reading The plaster, discolored by the steam of many wash-days, was crisscrossed with cracks from the big earthquake of the previous spring.
discoloredverbUS /dɪˈskʌlərd/
past form of “discolor” — lose color or turn colorless
From this reading The plaster, discolored by the steam of many wash-days, was crisscrossed with cracks from the big earthquake of the previous spring.
disordernounUS /dɪˈsɔːrdər/
a physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning
From this reading It was a small room, not disorderly, because of lack of furnishings to disorder it.
disorderlyadjectiveUS /dɪˈsɔːrdərli/
undisciplined and unruly
From this reading It was a small room, not disorderly, because of lack of furnishings to disorder it.
increase twofold
From this reading The floor was ridged, wide-cracked, and uneven, and in front of the stove it was worn through and repaired with a five-gallon oil-can hammered flat and double.
earthquakenounUS /ˈɜːrθkweɪk/
shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane or from volcanic activity
From this reading The plaster, discolored by the steam of many wash-days, was crisscrossed with cracks from the big earthquake of the previous spring.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
five-gallon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The floor was ridged, wide-cracked, and uneven, and in front of the stove it was worn through and repaired with a five-gallon oil-can hammered flat and double.
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading She turned it up to the best of its flame.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading The floor was ridged, wide-cracked, and uneven, and in front of the stove it was worn through and repaired with a five-gallon oil-can hammered flat and double.
flickeredverbUS /ˈflɪkərd/
past form of “flicker” — move back and forth very rapidly
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The floor was ridged, wide-cracked, and uneven, and in front of the stove it was worn through and repaired with a five-gallon oil-can hammered flat and double.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The plaster, discolored by the steam of many wash-days, was crisscrossed with cracks from the big earthquake of the previous spring.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading The floor was ridged, wide-cracked, and uneven, and in front of the stove it was worn through and repaired with a five-gallon oil-can hammered flat and double.
furnishingsnounUS /ˈfɜːrnɪʃɪŋz/
plural of “furnishing” — (usually plural) accessory wearing apparel
From this reading It was a small room, not disorderly, because of lack of furnishings to disorder it.
gas-jet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
hammeredadjectiveUS /ˈhæmərd/
shaped or worked with a hammer and often showing hammer marks
From this reading The floor was ridged, wide-cracked, and uneven, and in front of the stove it was worn through and repaired with a five-gallon oil-can hammered flat and double.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The floor was ridged, wide-cracked, and uneven, and in front of the stove it was worn through and repaired with a five-gallon oil-can hammered flat and double.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading She turned it up to the best of its flame.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading It was a small room, not disorderly, because of lack of furnishings to disorder it.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The plaster, discolored by the steam of many wash-days, was crisscrossed with cracks from the big earthquake of the previous spring.
not able to be found
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was a small room, not disorderly, because of lack of furnishings to disorder it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She turned it up to the best of its flame.
oil-can
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The floor was ridged, wide-cracked, and uneven, and in front of the stove it was worn through and repaired with a five-gallon oil-can hammered flat and double.
plasterverbUS /ˈplæstər/
apply a heavy coat to
From this reading The plaster, discolored by the steam of many wash-days, was crisscrossed with cracks from the big earthquake of the previous spring.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading The plaster, discolored by the steam of many wash-days, was crisscrossed with cracks from the big earthquake of the previous spring.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
repairedverbUS /rɪˈperd/
past form of “repair” — restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading The floor was ridged, wide-cracked, and uneven, and in front of the stove it was worn through and repaired with a five-gallon oil-can hammered flat and double.
ridgedadjectiveUS /rɪdʒd/
having a ridge or shaped like a ridge or suggesting the keel of a ship
From this reading The floor was ridged, wide-cracked, and uneven, and in front of the stove it was worn through and repaired with a five-gallon oil-can hammered flat and double.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading It was a small room, not disorderly, because of lack of furnishings to disorder it.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was a small room, not disorderly, because of lack of furnishings to disorder it.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
the season of growth
From this reading The plaster, discolored by the steam of many wash-days, was crisscrossed with cracks from the big earthquake of the previous spring.
steamverbUS /stiːm/
travel by means of steam power
From this reading The plaster, discolored by the steam of many wash-days, was crisscrossed with cracks from the big earthquake of the previous spring.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
stovenounUS /stoʊv/
a kitchen appliance used for cooking food
From this reading The floor was ridged, wide-cracked, and uneven, and in front of the stove it was worn through and repaired with a five-gallon oil-can hammered flat and double.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The floor was ridged, wide-cracked, and uneven, and in front of the stove it was worn through and repaired with a five-gallon oil-can hammered flat and double.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading She turned it up to the best of its flame.
unevenadjectiveUS /əˈniːvən/
not even or uniform as e.g. in shape or texture
From this reading The floor was ridged, wide-cracked, and uneven, and in front of the stove it was worn through and repaired with a five-gallon oil-can hammered flat and double.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She turned it up to the best of its flame.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a small room, not disorderly, because of lack of furnishings to disorder it.
wash-days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plaster, discolored by the steam of many wash-days, was crisscrossed with cracks from the big earthquake of the previous spring.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
in or at the place that
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
wide-cracked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The floor was ridged, wide-cracked, and uneven, and in front of the stove it was worn through and repaired with a five-gallon oil-can hammered flat and double.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The plaster, discolored by the steam of many wash-days, was crisscrossed with cracks from the big earthquake of the previous spring.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading She went along the narrow walk to the rear, avoided the missing step without thinking about it, and entered the kitchen, where a solitary gas-jet flickered.
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading The floor was ridged, wide-cracked, and uneven, and in front of the stove it was worn through and repaired with a five-gallon oil-can hammered flat and double.
