used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
plural of “article” — nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication
From this reading Under most of the buildings were dim, cave-like shops hung with rare silks and ostrich feathers, or littered with articles in beaten silver, copper, and iron.
formed or made thin by hammering
From this reading Under most of the buildings were dim, cave-like shops hung with rare silks and ostrich feathers, or littered with articles in beaten silver, copper, and iron.
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading Under most of the buildings were dim, cave-like shops hung with rare silks and ostrich feathers, or littered with articles in beaten silver, copper, and iron.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
camphornoun
a resin obtained from the camphor tree; used in making celluloid and liniment
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
cave-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under most of the buildings were dim, cave-like shops hung with rare silks and ostrich feathers, or littered with articles in beaten silver, copper, and iron.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading The market of El-Ammeh was situated in the centre of the city.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading The market of El-Ammeh was situated in the centre of the city.
coarseadjectiveUS /kɔːrs/
of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles
From this reading There was quaint leatherwork and coarse pottery and a good sprinkling of European goods.
coppernounUS /ˈkɑːpər/
a ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic element; occurs in various minerals but is the only metal that occurs abundantly in large masses; used as an electrical and thermal conductor
From this reading Under most of the buildings were dim, cave-like shops hung with rare silks and ostrich feathers, or littered with articles in beaten silver, copper, and iron.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading Under most of the buildings were dim, cave-like shops hung with rare silks and ostrich feathers, or littered with articles in beaten silver, copper, and iron.
El-Ammeh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The market of El-Ammeh was situated in the centre of the city.
EuropeannounUS /ˌjʊrəˈpiːən/
a native or inhabitant of Europe
From this reading There was quaint leatherwork and coarse pottery and a good sprinkling of European goods.
feathersnounUS /ˈfeðərz/
plural of “feather” — the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
From this reading Under most of the buildings were dim, cave-like shops hung with rare silks and ostrich feathers, or littered with articles in beaten silver, copper, and iron.
featheryadjectiveUS /ˈfeðəri/
resembling or suggesting a feather or feathers
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading On the side overlooking the square the houses were practically without windows, and the few there were were small and iron-barred.
fignounUS /fɪɡ/
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
a quick look
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading There was quaint leatherwork and coarse pottery and a good sprinkling of European goods.
plural of “good” — benefit
From this reading There was quaint leatherwork and coarse pottery and a good sprinkling of European goods.
greenerynounUS /ˈɡriːnəri/
green foliage
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
heightsnounUS /haɪts/
a high place
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
huddleverbUS /ˈhʌdəl/
crowd or draw together
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Under most of the buildings were dim, cave-like shops hung with rare silks and ostrich feathers, or littered with articles in beaten silver, copper, and iron.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The market of El-Ammeh was situated in the centre of the city.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading Under most of the buildings were dim, cave-like shops hung with rare silks and ostrich feathers, or littered with articles in beaten silver, copper, and iron.
iron-barred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the side overlooking the square the houses were practically without windows, and the few there were were small and iron-barred.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
leatherworknoun
work made of leather
From this reading There was quaint leatherwork and coarse pottery and a good sprinkling of European goods.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
litteredadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtərd/
filled or scattered with a disorderly accumulation of objects or rubbish
From this reading Under most of the buildings were dim, cave-like shops hung with rare silks and ostrich feathers, or littered with articles in beaten silver, copper, and iron.
the world of commercial activity where goods and services are bought and sold
From this reading The market of El-Ammeh was situated in the centre of the city.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Under most of the buildings were dim, cave-like shops hung with rare silks and ostrich feathers, or littered with articles in beaten silver, copper, and iron.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The market of El-Ammeh was situated in the centre of the city.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the side overlooking the square the houses were practically without windows, and the few there were were small and iron-barred.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
orangenounUS /ˈɔːrəndʒ/
round yellow to orange fruit of any of several citrus trees
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
ostrichnounUS /ˈɔːstrɪtʃ/
a person who refuses to face reality or recognize the truth (a reference to the popular notion that the ostrich hides from danger by burying its head in the sand)
From this reading Under most of the buildings were dim, cave-like shops hung with rare silks and ostrich feathers, or littered with articles in beaten silver, copper, and iron.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
overlookingadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərlʊkɪŋ/
used of a height or viewpoint
From this reading On the side overlooking the square the houses were practically without windows, and the few there were were small and iron-barred.
palmnounUS /pɑːm/
the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
pomegranatenounUS /ˌpɑːməˈɡrænət/
shrub or small tree native to southwestern Asia having large red many-seeded fruit
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
potterynounUS /ˈpɑːtəri/
ceramic ware made from clay and baked in a kiln
From this reading There was quaint leatherwork and coarse pottery and a good sprinkling of European goods.
practicallyadverbUS /ˈpræktɪkli/
almost; nearly
From this reading On the side overlooking the square the houses were practically without windows, and the few there were were small and iron-barred.
quaintadjectiveUS /kweɪnt/
strange in an interesting or pleasing way
From this reading There was quaint leatherwork and coarse pottery and a good sprinkling of European goods.
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading Under most of the buildings were dim, cave-like shops hung with rare silks and ostrich feathers, or littered with articles in beaten silver, copper, and iron.
shapesnounUS /ʃeɪps/
plural of “shape” — any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
shinyadjectiveUS /ˈʃaɪni/
reflecting light
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
shopsnounUS /ʃɑːps/
plural of “shop” — a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading Under most of the buildings were dim, cave-like shops hung with rare silks and ostrich feathers, or littered with articles in beaten silver, copper, and iron.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading On the side overlooking the square the houses were practically without windows, and the few there were were small and iron-barred.
silksnounUS /sɪlks/
the brightly colored garments of a jockey; emblematic of the stable
From this reading Under most of the buildings were dim, cave-like shops hung with rare silks and ostrich feathers, or littered with articles in beaten silver, copper, and iron.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading Under most of the buildings were dim, cave-like shops hung with rare silks and ostrich feathers, or littered with articles in beaten silver, copper, and iron.
situatedadjectiveUS /ˈsɪtʃuːeɪtɪd/
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading The market of El-Ammeh was situated in the centre of the city.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading On the side overlooking the square the houses were practically without windows, and the few there were were small and iron-barred.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
sprinklingnounUS /ˈsprɪŋklɪŋ/
a small number (of something) dispersed haphazardly
From this reading There was quaint leatherwork and coarse pottery and a good sprinkling of European goods.
make square
From this reading On the side overlooking the square the houses were practically without windows, and the few there were were small and iron-barred.
confined on all sides
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The market of El-Ammeh was situated in the centre of the city.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig 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 It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Under most of the buildings were dim, cave-like shops hung with rare silks and ostrich feathers, or littered with articles in beaten silver, copper, and iron.
varyingadjectiveUS /ˈveriɪŋ/
marked by diversity or difference
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The market of El-Ammeh was situated in the centre of the city.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On the side overlooking the square the houses were practically without windows, and the few there were were small and iron-barred.
whitewashedadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪtwɑːʃt/
coated with whitewash
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading On the side overlooking the square the houses were practically without windows, and the few there were were small and iron-barred.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was surrounded by a huddle of whitewashed houses, of varying heights and shapes, leaning one against the other, with here and there, over some high wall, a glimpse of greenery--the feathery head of a palm, the shiny leaves of a camphor tree, a pomegranate, an orange or a fig tree.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading On the side overlooking the square the houses were practically without windows, and the few there were were small and iron-barred.
