adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
actuallyadverbUS /ˈæktʃuːəli/
in actual fact
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
AffairsnounUS /əˈferz/
matters of personal concern
From this reading Affairs on Ballarat had, for months past, run their usual prosperous course.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an odd and inexplicable thing that business showed no sign of improving.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was an odd and inexplicable thing that business showed no sign of improving.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
Ballarat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Affairs on Ballarat had, for months past, run their usual prosperous course.
banksnounUS /bæŋks/
English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)
From this reading The western township grew from day to day, and was straggling right out to the banks of the great swamp.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
bidverbUS /bɪd/
propose a payment
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
bottomingverbUS /ˈbɑːtəmɪŋ/
-ing form of “bottom” — provide with a bottom or a seat
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
broughtverbUS /brɔːt/
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading It was an odd and inexplicable thing that business showed no sign of improving.
conflictnounUS /ˈkɑːnflɪkt/
an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)
From this reading The diggers' grievances and their conflict with the government were now a turned page.
coursenounUS /kɔːrs/
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Affairs on Ballarat had, for months past, run their usual prosperous course.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The western township grew from day to day, and was straggling right out to the banks of the great swamp.
deepadjectiveUS /diːp/
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
depthnounUS /depθ/
the extent downward or backward or inward
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
diggersnounUS /ˈdɪɡərz/
plural of “digger” — a laborer who digs
From this reading The diggers' grievances and their conflict with the government were now a turned page.
fairadjectiveUS /fer/
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
feetnounUS /fiːt/
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
FlatadjectiveUS /flæt/
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Affairs on Ballarat had, for months past, run their usual prosperous course.
fortune-hunters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
freshadjectiveUS /freʃ/
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The western township grew from day to day, and was straggling right out to the banks of the great swamp.
goldenadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊldən/
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
governmentnounUS /ˈɡʌvərmənt/
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading The diggers' grievances and their conflict with the government were now a turned page.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The western township grew from day to day, and was straggling right out to the banks of the great swamp.
grewverbUS /ɡruː/
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading The western township grew from day to day, and was straggling right out to the banks of the great swamp.
grievancesnounUS /ˈɡriːvənsəz/
plural of “grievance” — a resentment strong enough to justify retaliation
From this reading The diggers' grievances and their conflict with the government were now a turned page.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Affairs on Ballarat had, for months past, run their usual prosperous course.
hostnounUS /hoʊst/
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
hundrednounUS /ˈhʌndrəd/
ten 10s
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
improvingadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvɪŋ/
getting higher or more vigorous
From this reading It was an odd and inexplicable thing that business showed no sign of improving.
inexplicableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnəkˈsplɪsəbəl/
incapable of being explained or accounted for
From this reading It was an odd and inexplicable thing that business showed no sign of improving.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an odd and inexplicable thing that business showed no sign of improving.
monthsnounUS /mʌnθs/
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Affairs on Ballarat had, for months past, run their usual prosperous course.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading It was an odd and inexplicable thing that business showed no sign of improving.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The diggers' grievances and their conflict with the government were now a turned page.
obtainedverbUS /əbˈteɪnd/
past form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
oddadjectiveUS /ɑːd/
not divisible by two
From this reading It was an odd and inexplicable thing that business showed no sign of improving.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was an odd and inexplicable thing that business showed no sign of improving.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Affairs on Ballarat had, for months past, run their usual prosperous course.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The western township grew from day to day, and was straggling right out to the banks of the great swamp.
pagenounUS /peɪdʒ/
one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading The diggers' grievances and their conflict with the government were now a turned page.
partiesnounUS /ˈpɑːrtiz/
plural of “party” — an organization to gain political power
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
pastnounUS /pæst/
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Affairs on Ballarat had, for months past, run their usual prosperous course.
presentverbUS /ˈprezənt/
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
prosperousadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːspərəs/
in fortunate circumstances financially; moderately rich
From this reading Affairs on Ballarat had, for months past, run their usual prosperous course.
resultsnounUS /rɪˈzʌlts/
plural of “result” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
rightadverbUS /raɪt/
precisely, exactly
From this reading The western township grew from day to day, and was straggling right out to the banks of the great swamp.
rivalverbUS /ˈraɪvəl/
be equal to in quality or ability
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
rulenounUS /ruːl/
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
runverbUS /rʌn/
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Affairs on Ballarat had, for months past, run their usual prosperous course.
showedverbUS /ʃoʊd/
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading It was an odd and inexplicable thing that business showed no sign of improving.
signnounUS /saɪn/
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading It was an odd and inexplicable thing that business showed no sign of improving.
sinkingnounUS /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/
a descent as through liquid (especially through water)
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
spotnounUS /spɑːt/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
stragglingadjective
spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly
From this reading The western township grew from day to day, and was straggling right out to the banks of the great swamp.
swampverbUS /swɑːmp/
drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged
From this reading The western township grew from day to day, and was straggling right out to the banks of the great swamp.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was an odd and inexplicable thing that business showed no sign of improving.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The western township grew from day to day, and was straggling right out to the banks of the great swamp.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Affairs on Ballarat had, for months past, run their usual prosperous course.
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/
a special situation
From this reading It was an odd and inexplicable thing that business showed no sign of improving.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
threenounUS /θriː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The western township grew from day to day, and was straggling right out to the banks of the great swamp.
touchedadjectiveUS /tʌtʃt/
having come into contact
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
townshipnounUS /ˈtaʊnʃɪp/
an administrative division of a county
From this reading The western township grew from day to day, and was straggling right out to the banks of the great swamp.
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The diggers' grievances and their conflict with the government were now a turned page.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Affairs on Ballarat had, for months past, run their usual prosperous course.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was an odd and inexplicable thing that business showed no sign of improving.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The diggers' grievances and their conflict with the government were now a turned page.
westernadjectiveUS /ˈwestərn/
relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts
From this reading The western township grew from day to day, and was straggling right out to the banks of the great swamp.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The diggers' grievances and their conflict with the government were now a turned page.
yearnounUS /jɪr/
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading On the Flat, the deep sinking that was at present the rule--some parties actually touched a depth of three hundred feet before bottoming--had brought a fresh host of fortune-hunters to the spot, and the results obtained bid fair to rival those of the first golden year.
