used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
ACROPOLISnounUS /əˈkrɑːpələs/
the citadel in ancient Greek towns
From this reading ATHENS AND THE ACROPOLIS.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
at or in the front
From this reading Through the mists of the dawning day we could make out dimly, ahead of us, only bleak bare hills.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The bay was filled with shipping and the shore lined with warehouses where the stevedores were already busily engaged in lading or discharging cargoes.
anchoredverbUS /ˈæŋkərd/
past form of “anchor” — fix firmly and stably
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ATHENS AND THE ACROPOLIS.
animationnounUS /ˌænəˈmeɪʃən/
the condition of living or the state of being alive
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
appearingnounUS /əˈpɪrɪŋ/
formal attendance (in court or at a hearing) of a party in an action
From this reading The sun was just appearing in the east as we approached the seaport of the Grecian capital.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading The sun was just appearing in the east as we approached the seaport of the Grecian capital.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The sun was just appearing in the east as we approached the seaport of the Grecian capital.
ATHENSnounUS /ˈæθənz/
the capital and largest city of Greece; named after Athena (its patron goddess)
From this reading ATHENS AND THE ACROPOLIS.
completely unclothed
From this reading Through the mists of the dawning day we could make out dimly, ahead of us, only bleak bare hills.
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading The bay was filled with shipping and the shore lined with warehouses where the stevedores were already busily engaged in lading or discharging cargoes.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
bleakadjectiveUS /bliːk/
offering little or no hope
From this reading Through the mists of the dawning day we could make out dimly, ahead of us, only bleak bare hills.
buildingsnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋz/
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
busilyadverbUS /ˈbɪzəli/
in a busy manner
From this reading The bay was filled with shipping and the shore lined with warehouses where the stevedores were already busily engaged in lading or discharging cargoes.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
assets available for use in the production of further assets
From this reading The sun was just appearing in the east as we approached the seaport of the Grecian capital.
cargoesnounUS /ˈkɑːrɡoʊz/
plural of “cargo” — goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading The bay was filled with shipping and the shore lined with warehouses where the stevedores were already busily engaged in lading or discharging cargoes.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
commodiousadjectiveUS /kəˈmoʊdiəs/
large and roomy (“convenient” is archaic in this sense)
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Through the mists of the dawning day we could make out dimly, ahead of us, only bleak bare hills.
dawningnounUS /ˈdɔːnɪŋ/
the first light of day
From this reading Through the mists of the dawning day we could make out dimly, ahead of us, only bleak bare hills.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Through the mists of the dawning day we could make out dimly, ahead of us, only bleak bare hills.
dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading Through the mists of the dawning day we could make out dimly, ahead of us, only bleak bare hills.
dischargingverbUS /dɪsˈtʃɑːrdʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “discharge” — complete or carry out
From this reading The bay was filled with shipping and the shore lined with warehouses where the stevedores were already busily engaged in lading or discharging cargoes.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading The sun was just appearing in the east as we approached the seaport of the Grecian capital.
one or the other of two
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading The bay was filled with shipping and the shore lined with warehouses where the stevedores were already busily engaged in lading or discharging cargoes.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
extendingverbUS /ɪkˈstendɪŋ/
-ing form of “extend” — extend in scope or range or area
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The bay was filled with shipping and the shore lined with warehouses where the stevedores were already busily engaged in lading or discharging cargoes.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
GrecianadjectiveUS /ˈɡriːʃən/
of or relating to or characteristic of Greece or the Greeks or the Greek language
From this reading The sun was just appearing in the east as we approached the seaport of the Grecian capital.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
harborverbUS /ˈhɑːrbər/
maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Through the mists of the dawning day we could make out dimly, ahead of us, only bleak bare hills.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The sun was just appearing in the east as we approached the seaport of the Grecian capital.
and nothing more
From this reading The sun was just appearing in the east as we approached the seaport of the Grecian capital.
ladingnounUS /ˈleɪdɪŋ/
goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading The bay was filled with shipping and the shore lined with warehouses where the stevedores were already busily engaged in lading or discharging cargoes.
lighthousenounUS /ˈlaɪthaʊs/
a tower with a light that gives warning of shoals to passing ships
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
linedadjectiveUS /laɪnd/
bordered by a line of things
From this reading The bay was filled with shipping and the shore lined with warehouses where the stevedores were already busily engaged in lading or discharging cargoes.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
engage in
From this reading Through the mists of the dawning day we could make out dimly, ahead of us, only bleak bare hills.
mastsnounUS /mæsts/
plural of “mast” — a vertical spar for supporting sails
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
mistsnounUS /mɪsts/
plural of “mist” — a thin fog with condensation near the ground
From this reading Through the mists of the dawning day we could make out dimly, ahead of us, only bleak bare hills.
molesnounUS /moʊlz/
plural of “mole” — the molecular weight of a substance expressed in grams; the basic unit of amount of substance adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
Moltke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sun was just appearing in the east as we approached the seaport of the Grecian capital.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
and nothing more
From this reading Through the mists of the dawning day we could make out dimly, ahead of us, only bleak bare hills.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The bay was filled with shipping and the shore lined with warehouses where the stevedores were already busily engaged in lading or discharging cargoes.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Through the mists of the dawning day we could make out dimly, ahead of us, only bleak bare hills.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
Piraeus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
protectedadjectiveUS /prəˈtektɪd/
kept safe or defended from danger or injury or loss
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
precisely, exactly
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
cut with a saw
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
seaportnounUS /ˈsiːpɔːrt/
a sheltered port where ships can take on or discharge cargo
From this reading The sun was just appearing in the east as we approached the seaport of the Grecian capital.
shippingnounUS /ˈʃɪpɪŋ/
the commercial enterprise of moving goods and materials
From this reading The bay was filled with shipping and the shore lined with warehouses where the stevedores were already busily engaged in lading or discharging cargoes.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
steamedadjectiveUS /stiːmd/
cooked in steam
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
stevedores
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bay was filled with shipping and the shore lined with warehouses where the stevedores were already busily engaged in lading or discharging cargoes.
straitsnounUS /streɪts/
a bad or difficult situation or state of affairs
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun was just appearing in the east as we approached the seaport of the Grecian capital.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ATHENS AND THE ACROPOLIS.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the mists of the dawning day we could make out dimly, ahead of us, only bleak bare hills.
topsadjectiveUS /tɑːps/
of the highest quality
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Through the mists of the dawning day we could make out dimly, ahead of us, only bleak bare hills.
a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
warehousesnounUS /ˈwerhaʊzɪz/
plural of “warehouse” — a storehouse for goods and merchandise
From this reading The bay was filled with shipping and the shore lined with warehouses where the stevedores were already busily engaged in lading or discharging cargoes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sun was just appearing in the east as we approached the seaport of the Grecian capital.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The sun was just appearing in the east as we approached the seaport of the Grecian capital.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The bay was filled with shipping and the shore lined with warehouses where the stevedores were already busily engaged in lading or discharging cargoes.
at the time that
From this reading As the Moltke steamed through the straits we saw a lighthouse and a few buildings on the shore and over the low hill on our right the tops of masts; but when the vessel had entered through a narrow passage between the moles extending from either side, and had anchored in the centre of the well protected and commodious harbor of Piraeus, we gazed on a scene of animation and activity.
in or at the place that
From this reading The bay was filled with shipping and the shore lined with warehouses where the stevedores were already busily engaged in lading or discharging cargoes.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The bay was filled with shipping and the shore lined with warehouses where the stevedores were already busily engaged in lading or discharging cargoes.
