used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading All the huts had vanished without leaving a trace behind, and the splendid trees which lately overshadowed them were reduced to powder.
(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 the huts had vanished without leaving a trace behind, and the splendid trees which lately overshadowed them were reduced to powder.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Where once had stood the dwellings of the royal wives, the harem of Munza, now ashes alone were to be seen.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When we reached the environs of the palace, and before going to see Munza, we turned to look at the scene of the great fire of the previous evening.
ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/
The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.
From this reading Where once had stood the dwellings of the royal wives, the harem of Munza, now ashes alone were to be seen.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When we reached the environs of the palace, and before going to see Munza, we turned to look at the scene of the great fire of the previous evening.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Where once had stood the dwellings of the royal wives, the harem of Munza, now ashes alone were to be seen.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading When we reached the environs of the palace, and before going to see Munza, we turned to look at the scene of the great fire of the previous evening.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading All the huts had vanished without leaving a trace behind, and the splendid trees which lately overshadowed them were reduced to powder.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading A few gigantic trunks only, spared, though scorched, by the flames, stretched out their sturdy, leafless branches to the sky.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A few gigantic trunks only, spared, though scorched, by the flames, stretched out their sturdy, leafless branches to the sky.
carpetnounUS /ˈkɑːrpət/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading The red clay was overspread by a thick carpet of white cinders, like a clearing covered with snow.
cindersnounUS /ˈsɪndərz/
plural of “cinder” — a fragment of incombustible matter left after a wood or coal or charcoal fire
From this reading The red clay was overspread by a thick carpet of white cinders, like a clearing covered with snow.
claynounUS /kleɪ/
a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired
From this reading The red clay was overspread by a thick carpet of white cinders, like a clearing covered with snow.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading The red clay was overspread by a thick carpet of white cinders, like a clearing covered with snow.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading The red clay was overspread by a thick carpet of white cinders, like a clearing covered with snow.
dwellingsnounUS /ˈdwelɪŋz/
plural of “dwelling” — housing that someone is living in
From this reading Where once had stood the dwellings of the royal wives, the harem of Munza, now ashes alone were to be seen.
environsnounUS /ɪnˈvaɪrənz/
the area in which something exists or lives
From this reading When we reached the environs of the palace, and before going to see Munza, we turned to look at the scene of the great fire of the previous evening.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading When we reached the environs of the palace, and before going to see Munza, we turned to look at the scene of the great fire of the previous evening.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few gigantic trunks only, spared, though scorched, by the flames, stretched out their sturdy, leafless branches to the sky.
start firing a weapon
From this reading When we reached the environs of the palace, and before going to see Munza, we turned to look at the scene of the great fire of the previous evening.
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading A few gigantic trunks only, spared, though scorched, by the flames, stretched out their sturdy, leafless branches to the sky.
giganticadjectiveUS /dʒaɪˈɡæntɪk/
so exceedingly large or extensive as to suggest a giant or mammoth
From this reading A few gigantic trunks only, spared, though scorched, by the flames, stretched out their sturdy, leafless branches to the sky.
the act of departing
From this reading When we reached the environs of the palace, and before going to see Munza, we turned to look at the scene of the great fire of the previous evening.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading When we reached the environs of the palace, and before going to see Munza, we turned to look at the scene of the great fire of the previous evening.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Where once had stood the dwellings of the royal wives, the harem of Munza, now ashes alone were to be seen.
haremnounUS /ˈherəm/
living quarters reserved for wives and concubines and female relatives in a Muslim household
From this reading Where once had stood the dwellings of the royal wives, the harem of Munza, now ashes alone were to be seen.
hutsnounUS /hʌts/
plural of “hut” — temporary military shelter
From this reading All the huts had vanished without leaving a trace behind, and the splendid trees which lately overshadowed them were reduced to powder.
in the recent past
From this reading All the huts had vanished without leaving a trace behind, and the splendid trees which lately overshadowed them were reduced to powder.
leaflessadjectiveUS /ˈliːfləs/
having no leaves
From this reading A few gigantic trunks only, spared, though scorched, by the flames, stretched out their sturdy, leafless branches to the sky.
the act of departing
From this reading All the huts had vanished without leaving a trace behind, and the splendid trees which lately overshadowed them were reduced to powder.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The red clay was overspread by a thick carpet of white cinders, like a clearing covered with snow.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading When we reached the environs of the palace, and before going to see Munza, we turned to look at the scene of the great fire of the previous evening.
Munza
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When we reached the environs of the palace, and before going to see Munza, we turned to look at the scene of the great fire of the previous evening.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Where once had stood the dwellings of the royal wives, the harem of Munza, now ashes alone were to be seen.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When we reached the environs of the palace, and before going to see Munza, we turned to look at the scene of the great fire of the previous evening.
on one occasion
From this reading Where once had stood the dwellings of the royal wives, the harem of Munza, now ashes alone were to be seen.
and nothing more
From this reading A few gigantic trunks only, spared, though scorched, by the flames, stretched out their sturdy, leafless branches to the sky.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A few gigantic trunks only, spared, though scorched, by the flames, stretched out their sturdy, leafless branches to the sky.
overshadowedverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈʃædoʊd/
past form of “overshadow” — be greater in significance than
From this reading All the huts had vanished without leaving a trace behind, and the splendid trees which lately overshadowed them were reduced to powder.
overspreadverb
spread across or over
From this reading The red clay was overspread by a thick carpet of white cinders, like a clearing covered with snow.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading When we reached the environs of the palace, and before going to see Munza, we turned to look at the scene of the great fire of the previous evening.
powdernounUS /ˈpaʊdər/
a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized
From this reading All the huts had vanished without leaving a trace behind, and the splendid trees which lately overshadowed them were reduced to powder.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading When we reached the environs of the palace, and before going to see Munza, we turned to look at the scene of the great fire of the previous evening.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading When we reached the environs of the palace, and before going to see Munza, we turned to look at the scene of the great fire of the previous evening.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The red clay was overspread by a thick carpet of white cinders, like a clearing covered with snow.
reducedadjectiveUS /rəˈduːst/
made less in size or amount or degree
From this reading All the huts had vanished without leaving a trace behind, and the splendid trees which lately overshadowed them were reduced to powder.
royaladjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading Where once had stood the dwellings of the royal wives, the harem of Munza, now ashes alone were to be seen.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading When we reached the environs of the palace, and before going to see Munza, we turned to look at the scene of the great fire of the previous evening.
scorchedadjectiveUS /skɔːrtʃt/
Burned by flames or heat; blackened by intense magical or physical fire.
From this reading A few gigantic trunks only, spared, though scorched, by the flames, stretched out their sturdy, leafless branches to the sky.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading When we reached the environs of the palace, and before going to see Munza, we turned to look at the scene of the great fire of the previous evening.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Where once had stood the dwellings of the royal wives, the harem of Munza, now ashes alone were to be seen.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading A few gigantic trunks only, spared, though scorched, by the flames, stretched out their sturdy, leafless branches to the sky.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading The red clay was overspread by a thick carpet of white cinders, like a clearing covered with snow.
sparedverbUS /sperd/
past form of “spare” — refrain from harming
From this reading A few gigantic trunks only, spared, though scorched, by the flames, stretched out their sturdy, leafless branches to the sky.
having great beauty and splendor
From this reading All the huts had vanished without leaving a trace behind, and the splendid trees which lately overshadowed them were reduced to powder.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Where once had stood the dwellings of the royal wives, the harem of Munza, now ashes alone were to be seen.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading A few gigantic trunks only, spared, though scorched, by the flames, stretched out their sturdy, leafless branches to the sky.
sturdyadjectiveUS /ˈstɜːrdi/
having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
From this reading A few gigantic trunks only, spared, though scorched, by the flames, stretched out their sturdy, leafless branches to the sky.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When we reached the environs of the palace, and before going to see Munza, we turned to look at the scene of the great fire of the previous evening.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A few gigantic trunks only, spared, though scorched, by the flames, stretched out their sturdy, leafless branches to the sky.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading All the huts had vanished without leaving a trace behind, and the splendid trees which lately overshadowed them were reduced to powder.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading The red clay was overspread by a thick carpet of white cinders, like a clearing covered with snow.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading A few gigantic trunks only, spared, though scorched, by the flames, stretched out their sturdy, leafless branches to the sky.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When we reached the environs of the palace, and before going to see Munza, we turned to look at the scene of the great fire of the previous evening.
a just detectable amount
From this reading All the huts had vanished without leaving a trace behind, and the splendid trees which lately overshadowed them were reduced to powder.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading All the huts had vanished without leaving a trace behind, and the splendid trees which lately overshadowed them were reduced to powder.
trunksnounUS /trʌŋks/
(used in the plural) trousers that end at or above the knee
From this reading A few gigantic trunks only, spared, though scorched, by the flames, stretched out their sturdy, leafless branches to the sky.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading When we reached the environs of the palace, and before going to see Munza, we turned to look at the scene of the great fire of the previous evening.
having passed out of existence
From this reading All the huts had vanished without leaving a trace behind, and the splendid trees which lately overshadowed them were reduced to powder.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The red clay was overspread by a thick carpet of white cinders, like a clearing covered with snow.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading When we reached the environs of the palace, and before going to see Munza, we turned to look at the scene of the great fire of the previous evening.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Where once had stood the dwellings of the royal wives, the harem of Munza, now ashes alone were to be seen.
at the time that
From this reading When we reached the environs of the palace, and before going to see Munza, we turned to look at the scene of the great fire of the previous evening.
in or at the place that
From this reading Where once had stood the dwellings of the royal wives, the harem of Munza, now ashes alone were to be seen.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading All the huts had vanished without leaving a trace behind, and the splendid trees which lately overshadowed them were reduced to powder.
a Caucasian
From this reading The red clay was overspread by a thick carpet of white cinders, like a clearing covered with snow.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The red clay was overspread by a thick carpet of white cinders, like a clearing covered with snow.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading All the huts had vanished without leaving a trace behind, and the splendid trees which lately overshadowed them were reduced to powder.
wivesnounUS /waɪvz/
plural of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Where once had stood the dwellings of the royal wives, the harem of Munza, now ashes alone were to be seen.
