used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading UNDER A CLOUD Willie’s troubles began the next morning.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The elevator man was there and a few persons who seemed to be employed about the building were visible, but the office in which Willie was to work was deserted.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading But he found he was alone.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The elevator man was there and a few persons who seemed to be employed about the building were visible, but the office in which Willie was to work was deserted.
subject to appointment
From this reading Long before the appointed hour, he was on hand at the Custom-house.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Long before the appointed hour, he was on hand at the Custom-house.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The elevator man was there and a few persons who seemed to be employed about the building were visible, but the office in which Willie was to work was deserted.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Long before the appointed hour, he was on hand at the Custom-house.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading UNDER A CLOUD Willie’s troubles began the next morning.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading The elevator man was there and a few persons who seemed to be employed about the building were visible, but the office in which Willie was to work was deserted.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he found he was alone.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading UNDER A CLOUD Willie’s troubles began the next morning.
Custom-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Long before the appointed hour, he was on hand at the Custom-house.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading The elevator man was there and a few persons who seemed to be employed about the building were visible, but the office in which Willie was to work was deserted.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Willie did not know what to do.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Willie did not know what to do.
elevatornounUS /ˈeləveɪtər/
lifting device consisting of a platform or cage that is raised and lowered mechanically in a vertical shaft in order to move people from one floor to another in a building
From this reading The elevator man was there and a few persons who seemed to be employed about the building were visible, but the office in which Willie was to work was deserted.
having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary
From this reading The elevator man was there and a few persons who seemed to be employed about the building were visible, but the office in which Willie was to work was deserted.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The elevator man was there and a few persons who seemed to be employed about the building were visible, but the office in which Willie was to work was deserted.
set up or found
From this reading But he found he was alone.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Long before the appointed hour, he was on hand at the Custom-house.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Long before the appointed hour, he was on hand at the Custom-house.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Long before the appointed hour, he was on hand at the Custom-house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The elevator man was there and a few persons who seemed to be employed about the building were visible, but the office in which Willie was to work was deserted.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Willie did not know what to do.
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 Long before the appointed hour, he was on hand at the Custom-house.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The elevator man was there and a few persons who seemed to be employed about the building were visible, but the office in which Willie was to work was deserted.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading UNDER A CLOUD Willie’s troubles began the next morning.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading UNDER A CLOUD Willie’s troubles began the next morning.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Willie did not know what to do.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading The elevator man was there and a few persons who seemed to be employed about the building were visible, but the office in which Willie was to work was deserted.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Long before the appointed hour, he was on hand at the Custom-house.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading The elevator man was there and a few persons who seemed to be employed about the building were visible, but the office in which Willie was to work was deserted.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The elevator man was there and a few persons who seemed to be employed about the building were visible, but the office in which Willie was to work was deserted.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading UNDER A CLOUD Willie’s troubles began the next morning.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The elevator man was there and a few persons who seemed to be employed about the building were visible, but the office in which Willie was to work was deserted.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The elevator man was there and a few persons who seemed to be employed about the building were visible, but the office in which Willie was to work was deserted.
plural of “trouble” — a source of difficulty
From this reading UNDER A CLOUD Willie’s troubles began the next morning.
UNDERprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading UNDER A CLOUD Willie’s troubles began the next morning.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading The elevator man was there and a few persons who seemed to be employed about the building were visible, but the office in which Willie was to work was deserted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Long before the appointed hour, he was on hand at the Custom-house.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The elevator man was there and a few persons who seemed to be employed about the building were visible, but the office in which Willie was to work was deserted.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Willie did not know what to do.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The elevator man was there and a few persons who seemed to be employed about the building were visible, but the office in which Willie was to work was deserted.
which person or people
From this reading The elevator man was there and a few persons who seemed to be employed about the building were visible, but the office in which Willie was to work was deserted.
Willie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The elevator man was there and a few persons who seemed to be employed about the building were visible, but the office in which Willie was to work was deserted.
Willie'snounUS /ˈwɪliz/
possessive form of “willies” — feelings of uneasiness
From this reading UNDER A CLOUD Willie’s troubles began the next morning.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The elevator man was there and a few persons who seemed to be employed about the building were visible, but the office in which Willie was to work was deserted.
