used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Now it was only a steel framework rearing itself into the center of the overhead grayness--a black pier supporting the grimy arch of heaven.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading He shivered, and at times, to throw off the chill, he paced across the pine boards, carefully going around the gaps his men were wont to leap.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
archnounUS /ɑːrtʃ/
a curved shape in the vertical plane that spans an opening
From this reading Now it was only a steel framework rearing itself into the center of the overhead grayness--a black pier supporting the grimy arch of heaven.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading He shivered, and at times, to throw off the chill, he paced across the pine boards, carefully going around the gaps his men were wont to leap.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Up on its loosely-planked twenty-first story stood Mr. Driscoll, watching his men at work.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Now it was only a steel framework rearing itself into the center of the overhead grayness--a black pier supporting the grimy arch of heaven.
boardsnounUS /bɔːrdz/
(used in the plural) the stage of a theater
From this reading He shivered, and at times, to throw off the chill, he paced across the pine boards, carefully going around the gaps his men were wont to leap.
bulkyadjectiveUS /ˈbʌlki/
of large size for its weight
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading He shivered, and at times, to throw off the chill, he paced across the pine boards, carefully going around the gaps his men were wont to leap.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading Now it was only a steel framework rearing itself into the center of the overhead grayness--a black pier supporting the grimy arch of heaven.
chillnounUS /tʃɪl/
coldness due to a cold environment
From this reading He shivered, and at times, to throw off the chill, he paced across the pine boards, carefully going around the gaps his men were wont to leap.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading A raw February wind scraped slowly under the dirty clouds, which soiled the whole sky, and with a leisurely content thrust itself into his office-tendered flesh.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading A raw February wind scraped slowly under the dirty clouds, which soiled the whole sky, and with a leisurely content thrust itself into his office-tendered flesh.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
dirtyadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrti/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading A raw February wind scraped slowly under the dirty clouds, which soiled the whole sky, and with a leisurely content thrust itself into his office-tendered flesh.
plural of “dollar” — the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 cents
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
Doubleday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
Driscoll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up on its loosely-planked twenty-first story stood Mr. Driscoll, watching his men at work.
Etienne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/
the month following January and preceding March
From this reading A raw February wind scraped slowly under the dirty clouds, which soiled the whole sky, and with a leisurely content thrust itself into his office-tendered flesh.
the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat
From this reading A raw February wind scraped slowly under the dirty clouds, which soiled the whole sky, and with a leisurely content thrust itself into his office-tendered flesh.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
frameworknounUS /ˈfreɪmwɜːrk/
a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process
From this reading Now it was only a steel framework rearing itself into the center of the overhead grayness--a black pier supporting the grimy arch of heaven.
gapsnounUS /ɡæps/
plural of “gap” — a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures
From this reading He shivered, and at times, to throw off the chill, he paced across the pine boards, carefully going around the gaps his men were wont to leap.
garishlyadverb
in a tastelessly garish manner
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
the act of departing
From this reading He shivered, and at times, to throw off the chill, he paced across the pine boards, carefully going around the gaps his men were wont to leap.
graynessnoun
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading Now it was only a steel framework rearing itself into the center of the overhead grayness--a black pier supporting the grimy arch of heaven.
grimyadjectiveUS /ˈɡraɪmi/
thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
From this reading Now it was only a steel framework rearing itself into the center of the overhead grayness--a black pier supporting the grimy arch of heaven.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He shivered, and at times, to throw off the chill, he paced across the pine boards, carefully going around the gaps his men were wont to leap.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading Now it was only a steel framework rearing itself into the center of the overhead grayness--a black pier supporting the grimy arch of heaven.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Up on its loosely-planked twenty-first story stood Mr. Driscoll, watching his men at work.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Now it was only a steel framework rearing itself into the center of the overhead grayness--a black pier supporting the grimy arch of heaven.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Up on its loosely-planked twenty-first story stood Mr. Driscoll, watching his men at work.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Now it was only a steel framework rearing itself into the center of the overhead grayness--a black pier supporting the grimy arch of heaven.
leapnounUS /liːp/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading He shivered, and at times, to throw off the chill, he paced across the pine boards, carefully going around the gaps his men were wont to leap.
leisurelyadverbUS /ˈliːzərli/
in an unhurried way or at one's convenience
From this reading A raw February wind scraped slowly under the dirty clouds, which soiled the whole sky, and with a leisurely content thrust itself into his office-tendered flesh.
loosely-planked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up on its loosely-planked twenty-first story stood Mr. Driscoll, watching his men at work.
characterized by grandeur
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
engage in
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
the force of workers available
From this reading Up on its loosely-planked twenty-first story stood Mr. Driscoll, watching his men at work.
millionnounUS /ˈmɪljən/
the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Up on its loosely-planked twenty-first story stood Mr. Driscoll, watching his men at work.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now it was only a steel framework rearing itself into the center of the overhead grayness--a black pier supporting the grimy arch of heaven.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Now it was only a steel framework rearing itself into the center of the overhead grayness--a black pier supporting the grimy arch of heaven.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He shivered, and at times, to throw off the chill, he paced across the pine boards, carefully going around the gaps his men were wont to leap.
office-tendered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A raw February wind scraped slowly under the dirty clouds, which soiled the whole sky, and with a leisurely content thrust itself into his office-tendered flesh.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Up on its loosely-planked twenty-first story stood Mr. Driscoll, watching his men at work.
and nothing more
From this reading Now it was only a steel framework rearing itself into the center of the overhead grayness--a black pier supporting the grimy arch of heaven.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading Now it was only a steel framework rearing itself into the center of the overhead grayness--a black pier supporting the grimy arch of heaven.
pacedverbUS /peɪst/
past form of “pace” — walk with slow or fast paces
From this reading He shivered, and at times, to throw off the chill, he paced across the pine boards, carefully going around the gaps his men were wont to leap.
one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
piernounUS /pɪr/
a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats
From this reading Now it was only a steel framework rearing itself into the center of the overhead grayness--a black pier supporting the grimy arch of heaven.
pinenounUS /paɪn/
a coniferous tree
From this reading He shivered, and at times, to throw off the chill, he paced across the pine boards, carefully going around the gaps his men were wont to leap.
rawadjectiveUS /rɑː/
(used especially of commodities) being unprocessed or manufactured using only simple or minimal processes
From this reading A raw February wind scraped slowly under the dirty clouds, which soiled the whole sky, and with a leisurely content thrust itself into his office-tendered flesh.
rearingnounUS /ˈrɪrɪŋ/
the properties acquired as a consequence of the way you were treated as a child
From this reading Now it was only a steel framework rearing itself into the center of the overhead grayness--a black pier supporting the grimy arch of heaven.
scrapedverbUS /skreɪpt/
past form of “scrape” — scratch repeatedly
From this reading A raw February wind scraped slowly under the dirty clouds, which soiled the whole sky, and with a leisurely content thrust itself into his office-tendered flesh.
shiveredverbUS /ˈʃɪvərd/
past form of “shiver” — tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement
From this reading He shivered, and at times, to throw off the chill, he paced across the pine boards, carefully going around the gaps his men were wont to leap.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading A raw February wind scraped slowly under the dirty clouds, which soiled the whole sky, and with a leisurely content thrust itself into his office-tendered flesh.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading A raw February wind scraped slowly under the dirty clouds, which soiled the whole sky, and with a leisurely content thrust itself into his office-tendered flesh.
soiledadjectiveUS /sɔɪld/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading A raw February wind scraped slowly under the dirty clouds, which soiled the whole sky, and with a leisurely content thrust itself into his office-tendered flesh.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading Now it was only a steel framework rearing itself into the center of the overhead grayness--a black pier supporting the grimy arch of heaven.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Up on its loosely-planked twenty-first story stood Mr. Driscoll, watching his men at work.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Up on its loosely-planked twenty-first story stood Mr. Driscoll, watching his men at work.
supportingadjectiveUS /səˈpɔːrtɪŋ/
furnishing support and encouragement
From this reading Now it was only a steel framework rearing itself into the center of the overhead grayness--a black pier supporting the grimy arch of heaven.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
propel through the air
From this reading He shivered, and at times, to throw off the chill, he paced across the pine boards, carefully going around the gaps his men were wont to leap.
push forcefully
From this reading A raw February wind scraped slowly under the dirty clouds, which soiled the whole sky, and with a leisurely content thrust itself into his office-tendered flesh.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading He shivered, and at times, to throw off the chill, he paced across the pine boards, carefully going around the gaps his men were wont to leap.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He shivered, and at times, to throw off the chill, he paced across the pine boards, carefully going around the gaps his men were wont to leap.
twenty-firstadjectiveUS /ˈtwentifɜːrst/
coming next after the twentieth in position
From this reading Up on its loosely-planked twenty-first story stood Mr. Driscoll, watching his men at work.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading A raw February wind scraped slowly under the dirty clouds, which soiled the whole sky, and with a leisurely content thrust itself into his office-tendered flesh.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Up on its loosely-planked twenty-first story stood Mr. Driscoll, watching his men at work.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now it was only a steel framework rearing itself into the center of the overhead grayness--a black pier supporting the grimy arch of heaven.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading Up on its loosely-planked twenty-first story stood Mr. Driscoll, watching his men at work.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He shivered, and at times, to throw off the chill, he paced across the pine boards, carefully going around the gaps his men were wont to leap.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A raw February wind scraped slowly under the dirty clouds, which soiled the whole sky, and with a leisurely content thrust itself into his office-tendered flesh.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading A raw February wind scraped slowly under the dirty clouds, which soiled the whole sky, and with a leisurely content thrust itself into his office-tendered flesh.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading A raw February wind scraped slowly under the dirty clouds, which soiled the whole sky, and with a leisurely content thrust itself into his office-tendered flesh.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A raw February wind scraped slowly under the dirty clouds, which soiled the whole sky, and with a leisurely content thrust itself into his office-tendered flesh.
wontnounUS /woʊnt/
an established custom
From this reading He shivered, and at times, to throw off the chill, he paced across the pine boards, carefully going around the gaps his men were wont to leap.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Up on its loosely-planked twenty-first story stood Mr. Driscoll, watching his men at work.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading New York Doubleday, Page & Company The St. Etienne Hotel would some day be as bulky and as garishly magnificent as four million dollars could make it.
