used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One was named Jim; a second, Sam; a third, Joe.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Letitia sat on an empty barrel in the carpetless drawing-room; there was desolation in her heart, chaos in mine; the tragedy of finality in the atmosphere.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Strange men in linen overalls, ponderous boots, and crackly voices, creaked around, blithely disrespectful and lugubriously light-hearted.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Strange men in linen overalls, ponderous boots, and crackly voices, creaked around, blithely disrespectful and lugubriously light-hearted.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading Letitia sat on an empty barrel in the carpetless drawing-room; there was desolation in her heart, chaos in mine; the tragedy of finality in the atmosphere.
barrelnounUS /ˈbærəl/
a tube through which a bullet travels when a gun is fired
From this reading Letitia sat on an empty barrel in the carpetless drawing-room; there was desolation in her heart, chaos in mine; the tragedy of finality in the atmosphere.
blithelyadverbUS /ˈblaɪθli/
in a joyous manner
From this reading Strange men in linen overalls, ponderous boots, and crackly voices, creaked around, blithely disrespectful and lugubriously light-hearted.
plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading Strange men in linen overalls, ponderous boots, and crackly voices, creaked around, blithely disrespectful and lugubriously light-hearted.
carpetless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Letitia sat on an empty barrel in the carpetless drawing-room; there was desolation in her heart, chaos in mine; the tragedy of finality in the atmosphere.
chaosnounUS /ˈkeɪɑːs/
a state of extreme confusion and disorder
From this reading Letitia sat on an empty barrel in the carpetless drawing-room; there was desolation in her heart, chaos in mine; the tragedy of finality in the atmosphere.
crackly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strange men in linen overalls, ponderous boots, and crackly voices, creaked around, blithely disrespectful and lugubriously light-hearted.
creakedverbUS /kriːkt/
past form of “creak” — make a high-pitched, screeching noise
From this reading Strange men in linen overalls, ponderous boots, and crackly voices, creaked around, blithely disrespectful and lugubriously light-hearted.
desolationnounUS /ˌdesəˈleɪʃən/
the state of being decayed or destroyed
From this reading Letitia sat on an empty barrel in the carpetless drawing-room; there was desolation in her heart, chaos in mine; the tragedy of finality in the atmosphere.
disrespectfuladjectiveUS /ˌdɪsrɪˈspektfəl/
exhibiting lack of respect; rude and discourteous
From this reading Strange men in linen overalls, ponderous boots, and crackly voices, creaked around, blithely disrespectful and lugubriously light-hearted.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Letitia sat on an empty barrel in the carpetless drawing-room; there was desolation in her heart, chaos in mine; the tragedy of finality in the atmosphere.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading Letitia sat on an empty barrel in the carpetless drawing-room; there was desolation in her heart, chaos in mine; the tragedy of finality in the atmosphere.
finalitynounUS /faɪˈnæləti/
the quality of being final or definitely settled
From this reading Letitia sat on an empty barrel in the carpetless drawing-room; there was desolation in her heart, chaos in mine; the tragedy of finality in the atmosphere.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had no surnames and needed none.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Letitia sat on an empty barrel in the carpetless drawing-room; there was desolation in her heart, chaos in mine; the tragedy of finality in the atmosphere.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Letitia sat on an empty barrel in the carpetless drawing-room; there was desolation in her heart, chaos in mine; the tragedy of finality in the atmosphere.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Letitia sat on an empty barrel in the carpetless drawing-room; there was desolation in her heart, chaos in mine; the tragedy of finality in the atmosphere.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One was named Jim; a second, Sam; a third, Joe.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One was named Jim; a second, Sam; a third, Joe.
Letitia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Letitia sat on an empty barrel in the carpetless drawing-room; there was desolation in her heart, chaos in mine; the tragedy of finality in the atmosphere.
light-heartedadjective
carefree and happy and lighthearted
From this reading Strange men in linen overalls, ponderous boots, and crackly voices, creaked around, blithely disrespectful and lugubriously light-hearted.
linennounUS /ˈlɪnən/
a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant
From this reading Strange men in linen overalls, ponderous boots, and crackly voices, creaked around, blithely disrespectful and lugubriously light-hearted.
lugubriouslyadverb
in a sorrowful lugubrious manner
From this reading Strange men in linen overalls, ponderous boots, and crackly voices, creaked around, blithely disrespectful and lugubriously light-hearted.
the force of workers available
From this reading Strange men in linen overalls, ponderous boots, and crackly voices, creaked around, blithely disrespectful and lugubriously light-hearted.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Letitia sat on an empty barrel in the carpetless drawing-room; there was desolation in her heart, chaos in mine; the tragedy of finality in the atmosphere.
past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading One was named Jim; a second, Sam; a third, Joe.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading They had no surnames and needed none.
not any; not one
From this reading They had no surnames and needed none.
not one, and not any
From this reading They had no surnames and needed none.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Letitia sat on an empty barrel in the carpetless drawing-room; there was desolation in her heart, chaos in mine; the tragedy of finality in the atmosphere.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Letitia sat on an empty barrel in the carpetless drawing-room; there was desolation in her heart, chaos in mine; the tragedy of finality in the atmosphere.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One was named Jim; a second, Sam; a third, Joe.
overallsnounUS /ˈoʊvərɔːlz/
plural of “overall” — (usually plural) work clothing consisting of denim trousers (usually with a bib and shoulder straps)
From this reading Strange men in linen overalls, ponderous boots, and crackly voices, creaked around, blithely disrespectful and lugubriously light-hearted.
ponderousadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːndərəs/
slow and laborious because of weight
From this reading Strange men in linen overalls, ponderous boots, and crackly voices, creaked around, blithely disrespectful and lugubriously light-hearted.
a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
From this reading One was named Jim; a second, Sam; a third, Joe.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Letitia sat on an empty barrel in the carpetless drawing-room; there was desolation in her heart, chaos in mine; the tragedy of finality in the atmosphere.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading One was named Jim; a second, Sam; a third, Joe.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Strange men in linen overalls, ponderous boots, and crackly voices, creaked around, blithely disrespectful and lugubriously light-hearted.
surnamesnounUS /ˈsɜːrneɪmz/
plural of “surname” — the name used to identify the members of a family (as distinguished from each member's given name)
From this reading They had no surnames and needed none.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Letitia sat on an empty barrel in the carpetless drawing-room; there was desolation in her heart, chaos in mine; the tragedy of finality in the atmosphere.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Letitia sat on an empty barrel in the carpetless drawing-room; there was desolation in her heart, chaos in mine; the tragedy of finality in the atmosphere.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They whistled.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading One was named Jim; a second, Sam; a third, Joe.
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading Letitia sat on an empty barrel in the carpetless drawing-room; there was desolation in her heart, chaos in mine; the tragedy of finality in the atmosphere.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Strange men in linen overalls, ponderous boots, and crackly voices, creaked around, blithely disrespectful and lugubriously light-hearted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Letitia sat on an empty barrel in the carpetless drawing-room; there was desolation in her heart, chaos in mine; the tragedy of finality in the atmosphere.
whistledverbUS /ˈwɪsəld/
past form of “whistle” — make whistling sounds
From this reading They whistled.
