used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
abodenounUS /əˈboʊd/
any address at which you dwell more than temporarily
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
aidedadjectiveUS /ˈeɪdəd/
having help; often used as a combining form
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There plants grow in the richest luxuriance; there verdure clothes the forest, and flowers spangle the earth.
Andamans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
the act of burning something
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
clothing in general
From this reading There plants grow in the richest luxuriance; there verdure clothes the forest, and flowers spangle the earth.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading CONCLUSION.
coralsnounUS /ˈkɔːrəlz/
plural of “coral” — a variable color averaging a deep pink
From this reading Where the green waves gently lap the shore, corals of marvellous beauty may be seen through the transparent depths.
criminalsnounUS /ˈkrɪmənəlz/
plural of “criminal” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
greatly pleased
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
(plural) the deepest and most remote part
From this reading Where the green waves gently lap the shore, corals of marvellous beauty may be seen through the transparent depths.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
lying toward or situated in the east
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
emeraldsnounUS /ˈemrəldz/
plural of “emerald” — a green transparent form of beryl; highly valued as a gemstone
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
exclamationnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
faireradjectiveUS /ˈferər/
comparative of “fair” — free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
favoured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
fellow-men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading There plants grow in the richest luxuriance; there verdure clothes the forest, and flowers spangle the earth.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading There plants grow in the richest luxuriance; there verdure clothes the forest, and flowers spangle the earth.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
in a gradual manner
From this reading Where the green waves gently lap the shore, corals of marvellous beauty may be seen through the transparent depths.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Where the green waves gently lap the shore, corals of marvellous beauty may be seen through the transparent depths.
pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading There plants grow in the richest luxuriance; there verdure clothes the forest, and flowers spangle the earth.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
holdsnounUS /hoʊldz/
plural of “hold” — the act of grasping
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
Io's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
plural of “island” — a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading Where the green waves gently lap the shore, corals of marvellous beauty may be seen through the transparent depths.
luxuriancenoun
the property of being lush and abundant and a pleasure to the senses
From this reading There plants grow in the richest luxuriance; there verdure clothes the forest, and flowers spangle the earth.
marvellousadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːrvələs/
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading Where the green waves gently lap the shore, corals of marvellous beauty may be seen through the transparent depths.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Where the green waves gently lap the shore, corals of marvellous beauty may be seen through the transparent depths.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
not any; not one
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
not one, and not any
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
OscarnounUS /ˈɔːskər/
an annual award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for achievements in motion picture production and performance
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
paradisenounUS /ˈperədaɪs/
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
penaladjectiveUS /ˈpiːnəl/
of or relating to punishment
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
by chance
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
picturedadjectiveUS /ˈpɪktʃərd/
seen in the mind as a mental image
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
plantsnounUS /plænts/
plural of “plant” — buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading There plants grow in the richest luxuriance; there verdure clothes the forest, and flowers spangle the earth.
richestadjectiveUS /ˈrɪtʃəst/
superlative of “rich” — possessing material wealth
From this reading There plants grow in the richest luxuriance; there verdure clothes the forest, and flowers spangle the earth.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Where the green waves gently lap the shore, corals of marvellous beauty may be seen through the transparent depths.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
settlementnounUS /ˈsetəlmənt/
a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
spangleverbUS /ˈspæŋɡəl/
glitter as if covered with spangles
From this reading There plants grow in the richest luxuriance; there verdure clothes the forest, and flowers spangle the earth.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
in or at that place or location
From this reading There plants grow in the richest luxuriance; there verdure clothes the forest, and flowers spangle the earth.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Where the green waves gently lap the shore, corals of marvellous beauty may be seen through the transparent depths.
transparentadjectiveUS /trænˈsperənt/
transmitting light; able to be seen through with clarity
From this reading Where the green waves gently lap the shore, corals of marvellous beauty may be seen through the transparent depths.
verdurenoun
green foliage
From this reading There plants grow in the richest luxuriance; there verdure clothes the forest, and flowers spangle the earth.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “O Oscar! this can be no penal settlement; it is a paradise, a perfect paradise of beauty!” was Io’s delighted exclamation as, aided by her husband, she stepped on shore.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading Where the green waves gently lap the shore, corals of marvellous beauty may be seen through the transparent depths.
in or at the place that
From this reading Where the green waves gently lap the shore, corals of marvellous beauty may be seen through the transparent depths.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Imagination had pictured the Andamans as some hot waste of sand, or some burning rock, fit abode for criminals driven forth from their fellow-men; but perhaps the whole earth holds no fairer spot, none more favoured by nature, than these beautiful Eastern islands――“emeralds set in the ring of the sea.”
