adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And there was a line of new arrivals before a fresh row of pale clerks.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading The corridors and the lobbies and the foyer were thronged with the same people, freshly dressed for the day, fat or lean, heavy eyed or alert, pale, nervous, with quick tones and jerky movements.
AlladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
alreadyadverbUS /ɔːlˈredi/
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The prominent people of the city, especially the women, had already left town for the Springs or Florida or Paris or the Mediterranean, anywhere but here!
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
anywhereadverbUS /ˈeniwer/
at or in or to any place
From this reading The prominent people of the city, especially the women, had already left town for the Springs or Florida or Paris or the Mediterranean, anywhere but here!
arrivalsnounUS /ərˈaɪvəlz/
plural of “arrival” — accomplishment of an objective
From this reading And there was a line of new arrivals before a fresh row of pale clerks.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading In the morning they became even livelier in their effort to take down the hungry guests for breakfast and the day's business.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading And there was a line of new arrivals before a fresh row of pale clerks.
breakfastverbUS /ˈbrekfəst/
eat an early morning meal
From this reading In the morning they became even livelier in their effort to take down the hungry guests for breakfast and the day's business.
businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading In the morning they became even livelier in their effort to take down the hungry guests for breakfast and the day's business.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The prominent people of the city, especially the women, had already left town for the Springs or Florida or Paris or the Mediterranean, anywhere but here!
ceaselessadjectiveUS /ˈsiːslɪs/
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
citynounUS /ˈsɪti/
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading The prominent people of the city, especially the women, had already left town for the Springs or Florida or Paris or the Mediterranean, anywhere but here!
clerksnounUS /klɜːrks/
plural of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading And there was a line of new arrivals before a fresh row of pale clerks.
clickedverbUS /klɪkt/
past form of “click” — move or strike with a noise
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
cliff-city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
corridorsnounUS /ˈkɔːrɪdərz/
plural of “corridor” — an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The corridors and the lobbies and the foyer were thronged with the same people, freshly dressed for the day, fat or lean, heavy eyed or alert, pale, nervous, with quick tones and jerky movements.
day'snounUS /deɪz/
possessive form of “day” — time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading In the morning they became even livelier in their effort to take down the hungry guests for breakfast and the day's business.
doorsnounUS /dɔːrz/
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading In the morning they became even livelier in their effort to take down the hungry guests for breakfast and the day's business.
dressedadjectiveUS /drest/
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading The corridors and the lobbies and the foyer were thronged with the same people, freshly dressed for the day, fat or lean, heavy eyed or alert, pale, nervous, with quick tones and jerky movements.
effortnounUS /ˈefərt/
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading In the morning they became even livelier in their effort to take down the hungry guests for breakfast and the day's business.
eighteenadjectiveUS /eɪˈtiːn/
being one more than seventeen
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
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 All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
especiallyadverbUS /əˈspeʃli/
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading The prominent people of the city, especially the women, had already left town for the Springs or Florida or Paris or the Mediterranean, anywhere but here!
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading In the morning they became even livelier in their effort to take down the hungry guests for breakfast and the day's business.
eyedadjectiveUS /aɪd/
having an eye or eyes or eyelike feature especially as specified; often used in combination
From this reading The corridors and the lobbies and the foyer were thronged with the same people, freshly dressed for the day, fat or lean, heavy eyed or alert, pale, nervous, with quick tones and jerky movements.
fatadjectiveUS /fæt/
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading The corridors and the lobbies and the foyer were thronged with the same people, freshly dressed for the day, fat or lean, heavy eyed or alert, pale, nervous, with quick tones and jerky movements.
FloridanounUS /ˈflɔːrədə/
a state in southeastern United States between the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico; one of the Confederate states during the American Civil War
From this reading The prominent people of the city, especially the women, had already left town for the Springs or Florida or Paris or the Mediterranean, anywhere but here!
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In the morning they became even livelier in their effort to take down the hungry guests for breakfast and the day's business.
foyernounUS /ˈfɔɪər/
a large entrance or reception room or area
From this reading The corridors and the lobbies and the foyer were thronged with the same people, freshly dressed for the day, fat or lean, heavy eyed or alert, pale, nervous, with quick tones and jerky movements.
freshadjectiveUS /freʃ/
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading And there was a line of new arrivals before a fresh row of pale clerks.
freshlyadverbUS /ˈfreʃli/
very recently
From this reading The corridors and the lobbies and the foyer were thronged with the same people, freshly dressed for the day, fat or lean, heavy eyed or alert, pale, nervous, with quick tones and jerky movements.
guestsnounUS /ɡests/
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading In the morning they became even livelier in their effort to take down the hungry guests for breakfast and the day's business.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
heavyadjectiveUS /ˈhevi/
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The corridors and the lobbies and the foyer were thronged with the same people, freshly dressed for the day, fat or lean, heavy eyed or alert, pale, nervous, with quick tones and jerky movements.
hereadverbUS /hiːr/
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading The prominent people of the city, especially the women, had already left town for the Springs or Florida or Paris or the Mediterranean, anywhere but here!
hungryadjectiveUS /ˈhʌŋɡri/
feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
From this reading In the morning they became even livelier in their effort to take down the hungry guests for breakfast and the day's business.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
jerkyadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɜːrki/
lacking a steady rhythm
From this reading The corridors and the lobbies and the foyer were thronged with the same people, freshly dressed for the day, fat or lean, heavy eyed or alert, pale, nervous, with quick tones and jerky movements.
leanverbUS /liːn/
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading The corridors and the lobbies and the foyer were thronged with the same people, freshly dressed for the day, fat or lean, heavy eyed or alert, pale, nervous, with quick tones and jerky movements.
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The prominent people of the city, especially the women, had already left town for the Springs or Florida or Paris or the Mediterranean, anywhere but here!
linenounUS /laɪn/
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading And there was a line of new arrivals before a fresh row of pale clerks.
livelieradjectiveUS /ˈlaɪvliər/
comparative of “lively” — full of life and energy
From this reading In the morning they became even livelier in their effort to take down the hungry guests for breakfast and the day's business.
lobbiesnounUS /ˈlɑːbiz/
plural of “lobby” — a large entrance or reception room or area
From this reading The corridors and the lobbies and the foyer were thronged with the same people, freshly dressed for the day, fat or lean, heavy eyed or alert, pale, nervous, with quick tones and jerky movements.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
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 All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
MediterraneannounUS /ˌmedətərˈeɪniən/
the largest inland sea; between Europe and Africa and Asia
From this reading The prominent people of the city, especially the women, had already left town for the Springs or Florida or Paris or the Mediterranean, anywhere but here!
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading In the morning they became even livelier in their effort to take down the hungry guests for breakfast and the day's business.
movementsnounUS /ˈmuːvmənts/
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading The corridors and the lobbies and the foyer were thronged with the same people, freshly dressed for the day, fat or lean, heavy eyed or alert, pale, nervous, with quick tones and jerky movements.
nervousadjectiveUS /ˈnɜːrvəs/
easily agitated
From this reading The corridors and the lobbies and the foyer were thronged with the same people, freshly dressed for the day, fat or lean, heavy eyed or alert, pale, nervous, with quick tones and jerky movements.
newadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading And there was a line of new arrivals before a fresh row of pale clerks.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The corridors and the lobbies and the foyer were thronged with the same people, freshly dressed for the day, fat or lean, heavy eyed or alert, pale, nervous, with quick tones and jerky movements.
packverbUS /pæk/
arrange in a container
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
paleadjectiveUS /peɪl/
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading The corridors and the lobbies and the foyer were thronged with the same people, freshly dressed for the day, fat or lean, heavy eyed or alert, pale, nervous, with quick tones and jerky movements.
ParisnounUS /ˈperɪs/
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading The prominent people of the city, especially the women, had already left town for the Springs or Florida or Paris or the Mediterranean, anywhere but here!
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
prominentadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːmənənt/
having a quality that thrusts itself into attention
From this reading The prominent people of the city, especially the women, had already left town for the Springs or Florida or Paris or the Mediterranean, anywhere but here!
quickadjectiveUS /kwɪk/
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading The corridors and the lobbies and the foyer were thronged with the same people, freshly dressed for the day, fat or lean, heavy eyed or alert, pale, nervous, with quick tones and jerky movements.
rownounUS /roʊ/
an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading And there was a line of new arrivals before a fresh row of pale clerks.
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/
Identical; not different.
From this reading The corridors and the lobbies and the foyer were thronged with the same people, freshly dressed for the day, fat or lean, heavy eyed or alert, pale, nervous, with quick tones and jerky movements.
shutverbUS /ʃʌt/
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
SpringsnounUS /sprɪŋz/
plural of “spring” — the season of growth
From this reading The prominent people of the city, especially the women, had already left town for the Springs or Florida or Paris or the Mediterranean, anywhere but here!
storiesnounUS /ˈstɔːriz/
plural of “story” — 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 All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
takeverbUS /teɪk/
carry out
From this reading In the morning they became even livelier in their effort to take down the hungry guests for breakfast and the day's business.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In the morning they became even livelier in their effort to take down the hungry guests for breakfast and the day's business.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading And there was a line of new arrivals before a fresh row of pale clerks.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
throngedadjectiveUS /θrɔːŋd/
filled with great numbers crowded together
From this reading The corridors and the lobbies and the foyer were thronged with the same people, freshly dressed for the day, fat or lean, heavy eyed or alert, pale, nervous, with quick tones and jerky movements.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
tonesnounUS /toʊnz/
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading The corridors and the lobbies and the foyer were thronged with the same people, freshly dressed for the day, fat or lean, heavy eyed or alert, pale, nervous, with quick tones and jerky movements.
townnounUS /taʊn/
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The prominent people of the city, especially the women, had already left town for the Springs or Florida or Paris or the Mediterranean, anywhere but here!
tripsnounUS /trɪps/
plural of “trip” — a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And there was a line of new arrivals before a fresh row of pale clerks.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All night long in the corridors of the cliff-city the elevator doors had clicked, as they were opened and shut on the ceaseless trips to pack away the people in the eighteen stories.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The corridors and the lobbies and the foyer were thronged with the same people, freshly dressed for the day, fat or lean, heavy eyed or alert, pale, nervous, with quick tones and jerky movements.
womennounUS /ˈwɪmən/
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The prominent people of the city, especially the women, had already left town for the Springs or Florida or Paris or the Mediterranean, anywhere but here!
