adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Landlord Files had trouble in getting his kitchen fire started--in the sluggish air the draught was bad.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Stage-driver Jones had an early breakfast, for he had to be off with the mail.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Mr. Files's spirits were as heavy as the air.
badadjectiveUS /bæd/
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading Landlord Files had trouble in getting his kitchen fire started--in the sluggish air the draught was bad.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He knew it was up to him to be the first man in Egypt to come in contact with Tasper Britt that morning.
breakfastverbUS /ˈbrekfəst/
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Stage-driver Jones had an early breakfast, for he had to be off with the mail.
BrittnounUS /brɪt/
the young of a herring or sprat or similar fish
From this reading He knew it was up to him to be the first man in Egypt to come in contact with Tasper Britt that morning.
Burkett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
cloudsnounUS /klaʊdz/
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He knew it was up to him to be the first man in Egypt to come in contact with Tasper Britt that morning.
contactnounUS /ˈkɑːntækt/
close interaction
From this reading He knew it was up to him to be the first man in Egypt to come in contact with Tasper Britt that morning.
dawnnounUS /dɔːn/
the first light of day
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
draperiesnounUS /ˈdreɪpəriz/
plural of “drapery” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
draughtnounUS /dræft/
a serving of drink (usually alcoholic) drawn from a keg
From this reading Landlord Files had trouble in getting his kitchen fire started--in the sluggish air the draught was bad.
drizzlenounUS /ˈdrɪzəl/
very light rain; stronger than mist but less than a shower
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Stage-driver Jones had an early breakfast, for he had to be off with the mail.
EgyptnounUS /ˈiːdʒəpt/
a republic in northeastern Africa known as the United Arab Republic until 1971; site of an ancient civilization that flourished from 2600 to 30 BC
From this reading He knew it was up to him to be the first man in Egypt to come in contact with Tasper Britt that morning.
FilesnounUS /faɪlz/
plural of “file” — a set of related records (either written or electronic) kept together
From this reading Landlord Files had trouble in getting his kitchen fire started--in the sluggish air the draught was bad.
Files's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Files's spirits were as heavy as the air.
fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/
start firing a weapon
From this reading Landlord Files had trouble in getting his kitchen fire started--in the sluggish air the draught was bad.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He knew it was up to him to be the first man in Egypt to come in contact with Tasper Britt that morning.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Stage-driver Jones had an early breakfast, for he had to be off with the mail.
gettingnounUS /ˈɡetɪŋ/
the act of acquiring something
From this reading Landlord Files had trouble in getting his kitchen fire started--in the sluggish air the draught was bad.
graynounUS /ɡreɪ/
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He knew it was up to him to be the first man in Egypt to come in contact with Tasper Britt that morning.
heavyadjectiveUS /ˈhevi/
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
HillnounUS /hɪl/
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He knew it was up to him to be the first man in Egypt to come in contact with Tasper Britt that morning.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Landlord Files had trouble in getting his kitchen fire started--in the sluggish air the draught was bad.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
JonesnounUS /dʒoʊnz/
United States labor leader (born in Ireland) who helped to found the Industrial Workers of the World (1830-1930)
From this reading Stage-driver Jones had an early breakfast, for he had to be off with the mail.
kitchennounUS /ˈkɪtʃən/
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading Landlord Files had trouble in getting his kitchen fire started--in the sluggish air the draught was bad.
knewverbUS /nuː/
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He knew it was up to him to be the first man in Egypt to come in contact with Tasper Britt that morning.
LandlordnounUS /ˈlændlɔːrd/
a landowner who leases to others
From this reading Landlord Files had trouble in getting his kitchen fire started--in the sluggish air the draught was bad.
mailnounUS /meɪl/
the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service
From this reading Stage-driver Jones had an early breakfast, for he had to be off with the mail.
MANnounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading He knew it was up to him to be the first man in Egypt to come in contact with Tasper Britt that morning.
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Files's spirits were as heavy as the air.
nextadjectiveUS /nekst/
immediately following in time or order
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Stage-driver Jones had an early breakfast, for he had to be off with the mail.
rainnounUS /reɪn/
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
sluggishadjectiveUS /ˈslʌɡɪʃ/
moving slowly
From this reading Landlord Files had trouble in getting his kitchen fire started--in the sluggish air the draught was bad.
snownounUS /snoʊ/
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
softenedadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːfənd/
toned down
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
SORRYadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
spiritsnounUS /ˈspɪrɪts/
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading Mr. Files's spirits were as heavy as the air.
Stage-driver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stage-driver Jones had an early breakfast, for he had to be off with the mail.
startedverbUS /ˈstɑːrtɪd/
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Landlord Files had trouble in getting his kitchen fire started--in the sluggish air the draught was bad.
Tasper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew it was up to him to be the first man in Egypt to come in contact with Tasper Britt that morning.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He knew it was up to him to be the first man in Egypt to come in contact with Tasper Britt that morning.
thawnounUS /θɔː/
the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He knew it was up to him to be the first man in Egypt to come in contact with Tasper Britt that morning.
topnounUS /tɑːp/
the upper part of anything
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
trailedverbUS /treɪld/
past form of “trail” — to lag or linger behind
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
troublenounUS /ˈtrʌbəl/
a source of difficulty
From this reading Landlord Files had trouble in getting his kitchen fire started--in the sluggish air the draught was bad.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He knew it was up to him to be the first man in Egypt to come in contact with Tasper Britt that morning.
WASauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Mr. Files's spirits were as heavy as the air.
WHOpronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading THE MAN WHO WAS SORRY It was a heavy dawn, next day; a thaw had set in and a drizzle of rain softened the snow; gray clouds trailed their draperies across the top of Burkett Hill.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He knew it was up to him to be the first man in Egypt to come in contact with Tasper Britt that morning.
