used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
advancingadjectiveUS /ədˈvænsɪŋ/
moving forward
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
(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 But when the last Earl of Cairnforth was a child it was all peace.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Days, months, and years slip smoothly by on the shores of Loch Beg.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading In summertime a few stray tourists would wander past it, wondering at its beauty; but in winter it had hardly any communication with the outer world.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In summertime a few stray tourists would wander past it, wondering at its beauty; but in winter it had hardly any communication with the outer world.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading In summertime a few stray tourists would wander past it, wondering at its beauty; but in winter it had hardly any communication with the outer world.
call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading Days, months, and years slip smoothly by on the shores of Loch Beg.
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But when the last Earl of Cairnforth was a child it was all peace.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Days, months, and years slip smoothly by on the shores of Loch Beg.
Cairnforth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when the last Earl of Cairnforth was a child it was all peace.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
a young person of either sex
From this reading But when the last Earl of Cairnforth was a child it was all peace.
CivilizationnounUS /ˌsɪvəlɪˈzeɪʃən/
a society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
clachan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
communicationnounUS /kəˌmjuːnəˈkeɪʃən/
the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information
From this reading In summertime a few stray tourists would wander past it, wondering at its beauty; but in winter it had hardly any communication with the outer world.
comprisedverbUS /kəmˈpraɪzd/
past form of “comprise” — be composed of
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
cruellyadverbUS /ˈkruːli/
excessively
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Days, months, and years slip smoothly by on the shores of Loch Beg.
dottedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːtəd/
having a pattern of dots
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
droppingadjectiveUS /ˈdrɑːpɪŋ/
coming down freely under the influence of gravity
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
dullnessnounUS /ˈdʌlnəs/
the quality of being slow to understand
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
a British peer ranking below a marquess and above a viscount
From this reading But when the last Earl of Cairnforth was a child it was all peace.
one or the other of two
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
divisible by two
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
farm-houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading In summertime a few stray tourists would wander past it, wondering at its beauty; but in winter it had hardly any communication with the outer world.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
fishesnounUS /ˈfɪʃəz/
plural of “fish” — any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
flownounUS /floʊ/
the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
frightenverbUS /ˈfraɪtən/
cause fear in
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
genteeladjectiveUS /dʒenˈtiːl/
marked by refinement in taste and manners
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In summertime a few stray tourists would wander past it, wondering at its beauty; but in winter it had hardly any communication with the outer world.
only a very short time before
From this reading In summertime a few stray tourists would wander past it, wondering at its beauty; but in winter it had hardly any communication with the outer world.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
impregnableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpreɡnəbəl/
immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In summertime a few stray tourists would wander past it, wondering at its beauty; but in winter it had hardly any communication with the outer world.
free from evil or guilt
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
isolatedadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsəleɪtəd/
not close together in time
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading In summertime a few stray tourists would wander past it, wondering at its beauty; but in winter it had hardly any communication with the outer world.
immediately past
From this reading But when the last Earl of Cairnforth was a child it was all peace.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
LochnounUS /lɑːk/
a long narrow inlet of the sea in Scotland (especially when it is nearly landlocked)
From this reading Days, months, and years slip smoothly by on the shores of Loch Beg.
Mansenoun
a large and imposing house
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
marineadjectiveUS /mərˈiːn/
of or relating to the sea
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Days, months, and years slip smoothly by on the shores of Loch Beg.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Days, months, and years slip smoothly by on the shores of Loch Beg.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Days, months, and years slip smoothly by on the shores of Loch Beg.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading In summertime a few stray tourists would wander past it, wondering at its beauty; but in winter it had hardly any communication with the outer world.
outlyingadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtlaɪɪŋ/
relatively far from a center or middle
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading In summertime a few stray tourists would wander past it, wondering at its beauty; but in winter it had hardly any communication with the outer world.
the state prevailing during the absence of war
From this reading But when the last Earl of Cairnforth was a child it was all peace.
peacefuladjectiveUS /ˈpiːsfəl/
not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
peninsulanounUS /pəˈnɪnsələ/
a large mass of land projecting into a body of water
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
plowedadjectiveUS /plaʊd/
(of farmland) broken and turned over with a plow
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
with low volume
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
reposeverbUS /riˈpoʊz/
put or confide something in a person or thing
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
shoresnounUS /ʃɔːrz/
plural of “shore” — the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Days, months, and years slip smoothly by on the shores of Loch Beg.
for a short time
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
move stealthily
From this reading Days, months, and years slip smoothly by on the shores of Loch Beg.
smokyadjectiveUS /ˈsmoʊki/
marked by or emitting or filled with smoke
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
smoothlyadverbUS /ˈsmuːðli/
with no problems or difficulties
From this reading Days, months, and years slip smoothly by on the shores of Loch Beg.
steamverbUS /stiːm/
travel by means of steam power
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
not in physical motion
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
strayverbUS /streɪ/
move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading In summertime a few stray tourists would wander past it, wondering at its beauty; but in winter it had hardly any communication with the outer world.
to a sufficient degree
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
summertimenounUS /ˈsʌmərtaɪm/
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading In summertime a few stray tourists would wander past it, wondering at its beauty; but in winter it had hardly any communication with the outer world.
confined on all sides
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
telegraphnounUS /ˈteləɡræf/
apparatus used to communicate at a distance over a wire (usually in Morse code)
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Days, months, and years slip smoothly by on the shores of Loch Beg.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
having come into contact
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
touristsnounUS /ˈtʊrəsts/
plural of “tourist” — someone who travels for pleasure
From this reading In summertime a few stray tourists would wander past it, wondering at its beauty; but in winter it had hardly any communication with the outer world.
townspeoplenounUS /ˈtaʊnzpiːpəl/
the people living in a municipality smaller than a city
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
precisely as stated
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
villasnounUS /ˈvɪləz/
plural of “villa” — Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
wanderverbUS /ˈwɑːndər/
move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading In summertime a few stray tourists would wander past it, wondering at its beauty; but in winter it had hardly any communication with the outer world.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But when the last Earl of Cairnforth was a child it was all peace.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
at the time that
From this reading But when the last Earl of Cairnforth was a child it was all peace.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The Manse, the Castle, and the clachan, with a few outlying farm-houses, comprised the whole of the Cairnforth; and the little peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by hills, was sufficiently impregnable and isolated to cause existence to flow on there very quietly, in what townspeople call dullness, and country people repose.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading In summertime a few stray tourists would wander past it, wondering at its beauty; but in winter it had hardly any communication with the outer world.
wirenounUS /ˈwaɪər/
ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Even now, though the cruelly advancing finger of Civilization has touched it, dotted it with genteel villas on either side, plowed it with smoky steam boats, and will shortly frighten the innocent fishes by dropping a marine telegraph wire across the mouth of the loch, it is a peaceful place still.
showing curiosity
From this reading In summertime a few stray tourists would wander past it, wondering at its beauty; but in winter it had hardly any communication with the outer world.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading In summertime a few stray tourists would wander past it, wondering at its beauty; but in winter it had hardly any communication with the outer world.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In summertime a few stray tourists would wander past it, wondering at its beauty; but in winter it had hardly any communication with the outer world.
a late time of life
From this reading Days, months, and years slip smoothly by on the shores of Loch Beg.
