used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was after twelve o'clock and the "boss" had not yet returned from Broadway, whither he had betaken himself two or three hours before in quest of work.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading A rabbinical-looking man of thirty, who sat with the back of his chair tilted against his sewing machine, was intent upon an English newspaper.
(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 A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The little sweltering assemblage--for it was an oppressive day in midsummer--beguiled their suspense variously.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
AppletonnounUS /ˈæpəltən/
English physicist remembered for his studies of the ionosphere (1892-1966)
From this reading A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
assemblagenounUS /əˈsemblədʒ/
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading The little sweltering assemblage--for it was an oppressive day in midsummer--beguiled their suspense variously.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading A rabbinical-looking man of thirty, who sat with the back of his chair tilted against his sewing machine, was intent upon an English newspaper.
the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
From this reading Every little while he would remove it from his eyes--showing a dyspeptic face fringed with a thin growth of dark beard--to consult the cumbrous dictionary on his knees.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was after twelve o'clock and the "boss" had not yet returned from Broadway, whither he had betaken himself two or three hours before in quest of work.
beguiledadjectiveUS /bɪˈɡaɪld/
filled with wonder and delight
From this reading The little sweltering assemblage--for it was an oppressive day in midsummer--beguiled their suspense variously.
betaken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was after twelve o'clock and the "boss" had not yet returned from Broadway, whither he had betaken himself two or three hours before in quest of work.
bossnounUS /bɑːs/
a person who exercises control over workers
From this reading It was after twelve o'clock and the "boss" had not yet returned from Broadway, whither he had betaken himself two or three hours before in quest of work.
BroadwaynounUS /ˈbrɔːdweɪ/
a street in Manhattan that passes through Times Square; famous for its theaters
From this reading It was after twelve o'clock and the "boss" had not yet returned from Broadway, whither he had betaken himself two or three hours before in quest of work.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading A rabbinical-looking man of thirty, who sat with the back of his chair tilted against his sewing machine, was intent upon an English newspaper.
cloak-shop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
consultverbUS /kənˈsʌlt/
get or ask advice from
From this reading Every little while he would remove it from his eyes--showing a dyspeptic face fringed with a thin growth of dark beard--to consult the cumbrous dictionary on his knees.
cumbrousadjective
difficult to handle or use especially because of size or weight
From this reading Every little while he would remove it from his eyes--showing a dyspeptic face fringed with a thin growth of dark beard--to consult the cumbrous dictionary on his knees.
a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets
From this reading A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Every little while he would remove it from his eyes--showing a dyspeptic face fringed with a thin growth of dark beard--to consult the cumbrous dictionary on his knees.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The little sweltering assemblage--for it was an oppressive day in midsummer--beguiled their suspense variously.
dictionarynounUS /ˈdɪkʃəneri/
a reference book containing an alphabetical list of words with information about them
From this reading Every little while he would remove it from his eyes--showing a dyspeptic face fringed with a thin growth of dark beard--to consult the cumbrous dictionary on his knees.
dyspepticadjectiveUS /ˌdɪˈspeptɪk/
suffering from dyspepsia
From this reading Every little while he would remove it from his eyes--showing a dyspeptic face fringed with a thin growth of dark beard--to consult the cumbrous dictionary on his knees.
having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary
From this reading A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading A rabbinical-looking man of thirty, who sat with the back of his chair tilted against his sewing machine, was intent upon an English newspaper.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every little while he would remove it from his eyes--showing a dyspeptic face fringed with a thin growth of dark beard--to consult the cumbrous dictionary on his knees.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Every little while he would remove it from his eyes--showing a dyspeptic face fringed with a thin growth of dark beard--to consult the cumbrous dictionary on his knees.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Every little while he would remove it from his eyes--showing a dyspeptic face fringed with a thin growth of dark beard--to consult the cumbrous dictionary on his knees.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The little sweltering assemblage--for it was an oppressive day in midsummer--beguiled their suspense variously.
fringedadjective
surrounded as with a border or fringe; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Every little while he would remove it from his eyes--showing a dyspeptic face fringed with a thin growth of dark beard--to consult the cumbrous dictionary on his knees.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was after twelve o'clock and the "boss" had not yet returned from Broadway, whither he had betaken himself two or three hours before in quest of work.
GhettonounUS /ˈɡetoʊ/
formerly the restricted quarter of many European cities in which Jews were required to live
From this reading A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
growthnounUS /ɡroʊθ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading Every little while he would remove it from his eyes--showing a dyspeptic face fringed with a thin growth of dark beard--to consult the cumbrous dictionary on his knees.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was after twelve o'clock and the "boss" had not yet returned from Broadway, whither he had betaken himself two or three hours before in quest of work.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was after twelve o'clock and the "boss" had not yet returned from Broadway, whither he had betaken himself two or three hours before in quest of work.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A rabbinical-looking man of thirty, who sat with the back of his chair tilted against his sewing machine, was intent upon an English newspaper.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading It was after twelve o'clock and the "boss" had not yet returned from Broadway, whither he had betaken himself two or three hours before in quest of work.
not in action or at work
From this reading A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
intentnounUS /ˌɪnˈtent/
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading A rabbinical-looking man of thirty, who sat with the back of his chair tilted against his sewing machine, was intent upon an English newspaper.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was after twelve o'clock and the "boss" had not yet returned from Broadway, whither he had betaken himself two or three hours before in quest of work.
Jake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Every little while he would remove it from his eyes--showing a dyspeptic face fringed with a thin growth of dark beard--to consult the cumbrous dictionary on his knees.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little sweltering assemblage--for it was an oppressive day in midsummer--beguiled their suspense variously.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading A rabbinical-looking man of thirty, who sat with the back of his chair tilted against his sewing machine, was intent upon an English newspaper.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A rabbinical-looking man of thirty, who sat with the back of his chair tilted against his sewing machine, was intent upon an English newspaper.
midsummernounUS /ˈmɪdˈsʌmər/
June 21, when the sun is at its northernmost point
From this reading The little sweltering assemblage--for it was an oppressive day in midsummer--beguiled their suspense variously.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading A rabbinical-looking man of thirty, who sat with the back of his chair tilted against his sewing machine, was intent upon an English newspaper.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was after twelve o'clock and the "boss" had not yet returned from Broadway, whither he had betaken himself two or three hours before in quest of work.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading It was after twelve o'clock and the "boss" had not yet returned from Broadway, whither he had betaken himself two or three hours before in quest of work.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Every little while he would remove it from his eyes--showing a dyspeptic face fringed with a thin growth of dark beard--to consult the cumbrous dictionary on his knees.
operativesnounUS /ˈɑːpərətɪvz/
plural of “operative” — a person secretly employed in espionage for a government
From this reading A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
oppressiveadjectiveUS /əˈpresɪv/
weighing heavily on the senses or spirit
From this reading The little sweltering assemblage--for it was an oppressive day in midsummer--beguiled their suspense variously.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was after twelve o'clock and the "boss" had not yet returned from Broadway, whither he had betaken himself two or three hours before in quest of work.
questnounUS /kwest/
a search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria
From this reading It was after twelve o'clock and the "boss" had not yet returned from Broadway, whither he had betaken himself two or three hours before in quest of work.
rabbinical-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A rabbinical-looking man of thirty, who sat with the back of his chair tilted against his sewing machine, was intent upon an English newspaper.
removeverbUS /riˈmuːv/
remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract
From this reading Every little while he would remove it from his eyes--showing a dyspeptic face fringed with a thin growth of dark beard--to consult the cumbrous dictionary on his knees.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading It was after twelve o'clock and the "boss" had not yet returned from Broadway, whither he had betaken himself two or three hours before in quest of work.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading A rabbinical-looking man of thirty, who sat with the back of his chair tilted against his sewing machine, was intent upon an English newspaper.
sewingnounUS /ˈsoʊɪŋ/
joining or attaching by stitches
From this reading A rabbinical-looking man of thirty, who sat with the back of his chair tilted against his sewing machine, was intent upon an English newspaper.
the display of a motion picture
From this reading Every little while he would remove it from his eyes--showing a dyspeptic face fringed with a thin growth of dark beard--to consult the cumbrous dictionary on his knees.
suspensenounUS /səˈspens/
apprehension about what is going to happen
From this reading The little sweltering assemblage--for it was an oppressive day in midsummer--beguiled their suspense variously.
swelteringadjectiveUS /ˈsweltərɪŋ/
excessively hot and humid or marked by sweating and faintness
From this reading The little sweltering assemblage--for it was an oppressive day in midsummer--beguiled their suspense variously.
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 A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The little sweltering assemblage--for it was an oppressive day in midsummer--beguiled their suspense variously.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading Every little while he would remove it from his eyes--showing a dyspeptic face fringed with a thin growth of dark beard--to consult the cumbrous dictionary on his knees.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading A rabbinical-looking man of thirty, who sat with the back of his chair tilted against his sewing machine, was intent upon an English newspaper.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading It was after twelve o'clock and the "boss" had not yet returned from Broadway, whither he had betaken himself two or three hours before in quest of work.
tiltedadjectiveUS /ˈtɪltɪd/
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading A rabbinical-looking man of thirty, who sat with the back of his chair tilted against his sewing machine, was intent upon an English newspaper.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Every little while he would remove it from his eyes--showing a dyspeptic face fringed with a thin growth of dark beard--to consult the cumbrous dictionary on his knees.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading It was after twelve o'clock and the "boss" had not yet returned from Broadway, whither he had betaken himself two or three hours before in quest of work.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading It was after twelve o'clock and the "boss" had not yet returned from Broadway, whither he had betaken himself two or three hours before in quest of work.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A rabbinical-looking man of thirty, who sat with the back of his chair tilted against his sewing machine, was intent upon an English newspaper.
variouslyadverbUS /ˈveriəsli/
in diverse ways
From this reading The little sweltering assemblage--for it was an oppressive day in midsummer--beguiled their suspense variously.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Every little while he would remove it from his eyes--showing a dyspeptic face fringed with a thin growth of dark beard--to consult the cumbrous dictionary on his knees.
whitheradverbUS /ˈwɪðər/
an old word meaning “to where”
From this reading It was after twelve o'clock and the "boss" had not yet returned from Broadway, whither he had betaken himself two or three hours before in quest of work.
which person or people
From this reading A rabbinical-looking man of thirty, who sat with the back of his chair tilted against his sewing machine, was intent upon an English newspaper.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A rabbinical-looking man of thirty, who sat with the back of his chair tilted against his sewing machine, was intent upon an English newspaper.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading It was after twelve o'clock and the "boss" had not yet returned from Broadway, whither he had betaken himself two or three hours before in quest of work.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Every little while he would remove it from his eyes--showing a dyspeptic face fringed with a thin growth of dark beard--to consult the cumbrous dictionary on his knees.
but in spite of that
From this reading It was after twelve o'clock and the "boss" had not yet returned from Broadway, whither he had betaken himself two or three hours before in quest of work.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading A Tale of the New York Ghetto New York D. Appleton and Company The operatives of the cloak-shop in which Jake was employed had been idle all the morning.
