used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But, however painful they might be, and however offensive to the ear of a patriotic Dutchman, yet they were facts which could neither be ignored nor explained away.
ABOUTprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading FURTHER FACTS ABOUT OPIUM.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But, however painful they might be, and however offensive to the ear of a patriotic Dutchman, yet they were facts which could neither be ignored nor explained away.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Very gravely and very sadly the five young men sat slowly rocking themselves in their chairs and watching the wreaths of blue smoke as they curled upwards from their manillas.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading BIRDS-NESTING AT KARANG BOLLONG.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading But, however painful they might be, and however offensive to the ear of a patriotic Dutchman, yet they were facts which could neither be ignored nor explained away.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But, however painful they might be, and however offensive to the ear of a patriotic Dutchman, yet they were facts which could neither be ignored nor explained away.
BIRDS-NESTING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BIRDS-NESTING AT KARANG BOLLONG.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Very gravely and very sadly the five young men sat slowly rocking themselves in their chairs and watching the wreaths of blue smoke as they curled upwards from their manillas.
BOLLONG
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BIRDS-NESTING AT KARANG BOLLONG.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, however painful they might be, and however offensive to the ear of a patriotic Dutchman, yet they were facts which could neither be ignored nor explained away.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Very gravely and very sadly the five young men sat slowly rocking themselves in their chairs and watching the wreaths of blue smoke as they curled upwards from their manillas.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But, however painful they might be, and however offensive to the ear of a patriotic Dutchman, yet they were facts which could neither be ignored nor explained away.
curledadjectiveUS /kɜːrld/
(of hair) making curls or having been made to curl
From this reading Very gravely and very sadly the five young men sat slowly rocking themselves in their chairs and watching the wreaths of blue smoke as they curled upwards from their manillas.
DutchmannounUS /ˈdʌtʃmən/
a native or inhabitant of Holland
From this reading But, however painful they might be, and however offensive to the ear of a patriotic Dutchman, yet they were facts which could neither be ignored nor explained away.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading But, however painful they might be, and however offensive to the ear of a patriotic Dutchman, yet they were facts which could neither be ignored nor explained away.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading But, however painful they might be, and however offensive to the ear of a patriotic Dutchman, yet they were facts which could neither be ignored nor explained away.
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading FURTHER FACTS ABOUT OPIUM.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Very gravely and very sadly the five young men sat slowly rocking themselves in their chairs and watching the wreaths of blue smoke as they curled upwards from their manillas.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading These were most unpalatable facts for our friends to listen to.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading These were most unpalatable facts for our friends to listen to.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Very gravely and very sadly the five young men sat slowly rocking themselves in their chairs and watching the wreaths of blue smoke as they curled upwards from their manillas.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading FURTHER FACTS ABOUT OPIUM.
in a grave and sober manner
From this reading Very gravely and very sadly the five young men sat slowly rocking themselves in their chairs and watching the wreaths of blue smoke as they curled upwards from their manillas.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading But, however painful they might be, and however offensive to the ear of a patriotic Dutchman, yet they were facts which could neither be ignored nor explained away.
ignoredadjectiveUS /ˌɪɡˈnɔːrd/
disregarded
From this reading But, however painful they might be, and however offensive to the ear of a patriotic Dutchman, yet they were facts which could neither be ignored nor explained away.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Very gravely and very sadly the five young men sat slowly rocking themselves in their chairs and watching the wreaths of blue smoke as they curled upwards from their manillas.
KARANG
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BIRDS-NESTING AT KARANG BOLLONG.
hear with intention
From this reading These were most unpalatable facts for our friends to listen to.
manillas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very gravely and very sadly the five young men sat slowly rocking themselves in their chairs and watching the wreaths of blue smoke as they curled upwards from their manillas.
the force of workers available
From this reading Very gravely and very sadly the five young men sat slowly rocking themselves in their chairs and watching the wreaths of blue smoke as they curled upwards from their manillas.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading But, however painful they might be, and however offensive to the ear of a patriotic Dutchman, yet they were facts which could neither be ignored nor explained away.
used to form the superlative
From this reading These were most unpalatable facts for our friends to listen to.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading But, however painful they might be, and however offensive to the ear of a patriotic Dutchman, yet they were facts which could neither be ignored nor explained away.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading But, however painful they might be, and however offensive to the ear of a patriotic Dutchman, yet they were facts which could neither be ignored nor explained away.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But, however painful they might be, and however offensive to the ear of a patriotic Dutchman, yet they were facts which could neither be ignored nor explained away.
offensiveadjectiveUS /əˈfensɪv/
violating or tending to violate or offend against
From this reading But, however painful they might be, and however offensive to the ear of a patriotic Dutchman, yet they were facts which could neither be ignored nor explained away.
OPIUMnounUS /ˈoʊpiəm/
an addictive narcotic extracted from seed capsules of the opium poppy
From this reading FURTHER FACTS ABOUT OPIUM.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading These were most unpalatable facts for our friends to listen to.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading But, however painful they might be, and however offensive to the ear of a patriotic Dutchman, yet they were facts which could neither be ignored nor explained away.
patrioticadjectiveUS /ˌpeɪtriˈɑːtɪk/
inspired by love for your country
From this reading But, however painful they might be, and however offensive to the ear of a patriotic Dutchman, yet they were facts which could neither be ignored nor explained away.
rockingverbUS /ˈrɑːkɪŋ/
-ing form of “rock” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading Very gravely and very sadly the five young men sat slowly rocking themselves in their chairs and watching the wreaths of blue smoke as they curled upwards from their manillas.
in an unfortunate way
From this reading Very gravely and very sadly the five young men sat slowly rocking themselves in their chairs and watching the wreaths of blue smoke as they curled upwards from their manillas.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Very gravely and very sadly the five young men sat slowly rocking themselves in their chairs and watching the wreaths of blue smoke as they curled upwards from their manillas.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Very gravely and very sadly the five young men sat slowly rocking themselves in their chairs and watching the wreaths of blue smoke as they curled upwards from their manillas.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading Very gravely and very sadly the five young men sat slowly rocking themselves in their chairs and watching the wreaths of blue smoke as they curled upwards from their manillas.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But, however painful they might be, and however offensive to the ear of a patriotic Dutchman, yet they were facts which could neither be ignored nor explained away.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Very gravely and very sadly the five young men sat slowly rocking themselves in their chairs and watching the wreaths of blue smoke as they curled upwards from their manillas.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Very gravely and very sadly the five young men sat slowly rocking themselves in their chairs and watching the wreaths of blue smoke as they curled upwards from their manillas.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These were most unpalatable facts for our friends to listen to.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But, however painful they might be, and however offensive to the ear of a patriotic Dutchman, yet they were facts which could neither be ignored nor explained away.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading These were most unpalatable facts for our friends to listen to.
unpalatableadjectiveUS /ənˈpælətəbəl/
not pleasant or acceptable to the taste or mind
From this reading These were most unpalatable facts for our friends to listen to.
upwardsadverbUS /ˈʌpwərdz/
spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position
From this reading Very gravely and very sadly the five young men sat slowly rocking themselves in their chairs and watching the wreaths of blue smoke as they curled upwards from their manillas.
precisely as stated
From this reading Very gravely and very sadly the five young men sat slowly rocking themselves in their chairs and watching the wreaths of blue smoke as they curled upwards from their manillas.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading Very gravely and very sadly the five young men sat slowly rocking themselves in their chairs and watching the wreaths of blue smoke as they curled upwards from their manillas.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These were most unpalatable facts for our friends to listen to.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But, however painful they might be, and however offensive to the ear of a patriotic Dutchman, yet they were facts which could neither be ignored nor explained away.
wreathsnounUS /riːθs/
plural of “wreath” — flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage or flowers for ornamental purposes
From this reading Very gravely and very sadly the five young men sat slowly rocking themselves in their chairs and watching the wreaths of blue smoke as they curled upwards from their manillas.
but in spite of that
From this reading But, however painful they might be, and however offensive to the ear of a patriotic Dutchman, yet they were facts which could neither be ignored nor explained away.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Very gravely and very sadly the five young men sat slowly rocking themselves in their chairs and watching the wreaths of blue smoke as they curled upwards from their manillas.
