used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Once past the Green Man, they were on a tram-lined road, and there were shops and houses with scarce a break.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And now they were nearing London indeed.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The new shops had a raw, disagreeable look, and some of these a little older were just old enough to be dirty without being a whit less disagreeable and raw.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The new shops had a raw, disagreeable look, and some of these a little older were just old enough to be dirty without being a whit less disagreeable and raw.
terminate
From this reading Once past the Green Man, they were on a tram-lined road, and there were shops and houses with scarce a break.
bricklayersnounUS /ˈbrɪkleɪərz/
plural of “bricklayer” — a craftsman skilled in building with bricks
From this reading Where there was one bricklayers on scaffoldings were building shopfronts.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading Where there was one bricklayers on scaffoldings were building shopfronts.
confessedverbUS /kənˈfest/
past form of “confess” — confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
dirtyadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrti/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading The new shops had a raw, disagreeable look, and some of these a little older were just old enough to be dirty without being a whit less disagreeable and raw.
disagreeableadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsəˈɡriːəbəl/
not to your liking
From this reading The new shops had a raw, disagreeable look, and some of these a little older were just old enough to be dirty without being a whit less disagreeable and raw.
a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The new shops had a raw, disagreeable look, and some of these a little older were just old enough to be dirty without being a whit less disagreeable and raw.
divisible by two
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
failuresnounUS /ˈfeɪljərz/
plural of “failure” — an act that fails
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
giltadjectiveUS /ɡɪlt/
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Once past the Green Man, they were on a tram-lined road, and there were shops and houses with scarce a break.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The new shops had a raw, disagreeable look, and some of these a little older were just old enough to be dirty without being a whit less disagreeable and raw.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Once past the Green Man, they were on a tram-lined road, and there were shops and houses with scarce a break.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading And now they were nearing London indeed.
and nothing more
From this reading The new shops had a raw, disagreeable look, and some of these a little older were just old enough to be dirty without being a whit less disagreeable and raw.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading The new shops had a raw, disagreeable look, and some of these a little older were just old enough to be dirty without being a whit less disagreeable and raw.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The new shops had a raw, disagreeable look, and some of these a little older were just old enough to be dirty without being a whit less disagreeable and raw.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading And now they were nearing London indeed.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The new shops had a raw, disagreeable look, and some of these a little older were just old enough to be dirty without being a whit less disagreeable and raw.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Once past the Green Man, they were on a tram-lined road, and there were shops and houses with scarce a break.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
nearingverbUS /ˈnɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “near” — move towards
From this reading And now they were nearing London indeed.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The new shops had a raw, disagreeable look, and some of these a little older were just old enough to be dirty without being a whit less disagreeable and raw.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And now they were nearing London indeed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The new shops had a raw, disagreeable look, and some of these a little older were just old enough to be dirty without being a whit less disagreeable and raw.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The new shops had a raw, disagreeable look, and some of these a little older were just old enough to be dirty without being a whit less disagreeable and raw.
olderadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldər/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading The new shops had a raw, disagreeable look, and some of these a little older were just old enough to be dirty without being a whit less disagreeable and raw.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Once past the Green Man, they were on a tram-lined road, and there were shops and houses with scarce a break.
on one occasion
From this reading Once past the Green Man, they were on a tram-lined road, and there were shops and houses with scarce a break.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Where there was one bricklayers on scaffoldings were building shopfronts.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Once past the Green Man, they were on a tram-lined road, and there were shops and houses with scarce a break.
patheticadjectiveUS /pəˈθetɪk/
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
plate-glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
prosperousadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːspərəs/
in fortunate circumstances financially; moderately rich
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
rawadjectiveUS /rɑː/
(used especially of commodities) being unprocessed or manufactured using only simple or minimal processes
From this reading The new shops had a raw, disagreeable look, and some of these a little older were just old enough to be dirty without being a whit less disagreeable and raw.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Once past the Green Man, they were on a tram-lined road, and there were shops and houses with scarce a break.
scaffoldings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Where there was one bricklayers on scaffoldings were building shopfronts.
only a very short time before
From this reading Once past the Green Man, they were on a tram-lined road, and there were shops and houses with scarce a break.
shopfronts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Where there was one bricklayers on scaffoldings were building shopfronts.
shopsnounUS /ʃɑːps/
plural of “shop” — a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading Once past the Green Man, they were on a tram-lined road, and there were shops and houses with scarce a break.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The new shops had a raw, disagreeable look, and some of these a little older were just old enough to be dirty without being a whit less disagreeable and raw.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Once past the Green Man, they were on a tram-lined road, and there were shops and houses with scarce a break.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Once past the Green Man, they were on a tram-lined road, and there were shops and houses with scarce a break.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The new shops had a raw, disagreeable look, and some of these a little older were just old enough to be dirty without being a whit less disagreeable and raw.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And now they were nearing London indeed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The new shops had a raw, disagreeable look, and some of these a little older were just old enough to be dirty without being a whit less disagreeable and raw.
tram-lined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once past the Green Man, they were on a tram-lined road, and there were shops and houses with scarce a break.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Where there was one bricklayers on scaffoldings were building shopfronts.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And now they were nearing London indeed.
in or at the place that
From this reading Where there was one bricklayers on scaffoldings were building shopfronts.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
whitnounUS /wɪt/
a tiny or scarcely detectable amount
From this reading The new shops had a raw, disagreeable look, and some of these a little older were just old enough to be dirty without being a whit less disagreeable and raw.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Some were prosperous, brilliant with gilt and plate-glass; others, which had started even with them, stood confessed failures, poor and mean, with a pathetic air—almost an expression—of disappointment in every window.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Once past the Green Man, they were on a tram-lined road, and there were shops and houses with scarce a break.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The new shops had a raw, disagreeable look, and some of these a little older were just old enough to be dirty without being a whit less disagreeable and raw.
