used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading About a century ago the Highlanders were regarded as little better than a race of savages.
abjectadjectiveUS /ˈæbdʒekt/
of the most contemptible kind
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About a century ago the Highlanders were regarded as little better than a race of savages.
in the past
From this reading About a century ago the Highlanders were regarded as little better than a race of savages.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Their dress, their language, and their manners were the subject of ridicule among their Southern neighbours, and their well-known attachment to the house of Stuart excited the suspicion and the distrust of the government of the day.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Their dress, their language, and their manners were the subject of ridicule among their Southern neighbours, and their well-known attachment to the house of Stuart excited the suspicion and the distrust of the government of the day.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading About a century ago the Highlanders were regarded as little better than a race of savages.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
attachmentnounUS /əˈtætʃmənt/
a feeling of affection for a person or an institution
From this reading Their dress, their language, and their manners were the subject of ridicule among their Southern neighbours, and their well-known attachment to the house of Stuart excited the suspicion and the distrust of the government of the day.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The great historian then proceeds to show that this estimate bordered very closely on the truth, and that the Highlanders were little better than they were represented to be.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading About a century ago the Highlanders were regarded as little better than a race of savages.
borderedadjectiveUS /ˈbɔːrdərd/
having a border especially of a specified kind; sometimes used as a combining term
From this reading The great historian then proceeds to show that this estimate bordered very closely on the truth, and that the Highlanders were little better than they were represented to be.
a period of 100 years
From this reading About a century ago the Highlanders were regarded as little better than a race of savages.
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading The great historian then proceeds to show that this estimate bordered very closely on the truth, and that the Highlanders were little better than they were represented to be.
carefully weighed
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
cut-throat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Their dress, their language, and their manners were the subject of ridicule among their Southern neighbours, and their well-known attachment to the house of Stuart excited the suspicion and the distrust of the government of the day.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
distrustnounUS /dɪˈstrʌst/
doubt about someone's honesty
From this reading Their dress, their language, and their manners were the subject of ridicule among their Southern neighbours, and their well-known attachment to the house of Stuart excited the suspicion and the distrust of the government of the day.
put on clothes
From this reading Their dress, their language, and their manners were the subject of ridicule among their Southern neighbours, and their well-known attachment to the house of Stuart excited the suspicion and the distrust of the government of the day.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
estimatenounUS /ˈestəmət/
an approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth
From this reading The great historian then proceeds to show that this estimate bordered very closely on the truth, and that the Highlanders were little better than they were represented to be.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading Their dress, their language, and their manners were the subject of ridicule among their Southern neighbours, and their well-known attachment to the house of Stuart excited the suspicion and the distrust of the government of the day.
filthyadjectiveUS /ˈfɪlθi/
disgustingly dirty; filled or smeared with offensive matter
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading Their dress, their language, and their manners were the subject of ridicule among their Southern neighbours, and their well-known attachment to the house of Stuart excited the suspicion and the distrust of the government of the day.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The great historian then proceeds to show that this estimate bordered very closely on the truth, and that the Highlanders were little better than they were represented to be.
HIGHLANDnounUS /ˈhaɪlənd/
elevated (e.g., mountainous) land
From this reading OUR HIGHLAND REGIMENTS.
HighlandernounUS /ˈhaɪlændər/
a soldier in a Scottish regiment from the Highlands
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
HighlandersnounUS /ˈhaɪlændərz/
plural of “highlander” — a soldier in a Scottish regiment from the Highlands
From this reading About a century ago the Highlanders were regarded as little better than a race of savages.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
historiannounUS /hɪˈstɔːriən/
a person who is an authority on history and who studies it and writes about it
From this reading The great historian then proceeds to show that this estimate bordered very closely on the truth, and that the Highlanders were little better than they were represented to be.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Their dress, their language, and their manners were the subject of ridicule among their Southern neighbours, and their well-known attachment to the house of Stuart excited the suspicion and the distrust of the government of the day.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading Their dress, their language, and their manners were the subject of ridicule among their Southern neighbours, and their well-known attachment to the house of Stuart excited the suspicion and the distrust of the government of the day.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading About a century ago the Highlanders were regarded as little better than a race of savages.
MacaulaynounUS /məˈkɔːli/
English historian noted for his history of England (1800-1859)
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
social deportment
From this reading Their dress, their language, and their manners were the subject of ridicule among their Southern neighbours, and their well-known attachment to the house of Stuart excited the suspicion and the distrust of the government of the day.
neighboursnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/
plural of “neighbour” — a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading Their dress, their language, and their manners were the subject of ridicule among their Southern neighbours, and their well-known attachment to the house of Stuart excited the suspicion and the distrust of the government of the day.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading About a century ago the Highlanders were regarded as little better than a race of savages.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The great historian then proceeds to show that this estimate bordered very closely on the truth, and that the Highlanders were little better than they were represented to be.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading OUR HIGHLAND REGIMENTS.
papistnoun
an offensive term for Roman Catholics; originally, a Roman Catholic who was a strong advocate of the papacy
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
proceedsnounUS /prəˈsiːdz/
the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
From this reading The great historian then proceeds to show that this estimate bordered very closely on the truth, and that the Highlanders were little better than they were represented to be.
any competition
From this reading About a century ago the Highlanders were regarded as little better than a race of savages.
past form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading About a century ago the Highlanders were regarded as little better than a race of savages.
REGIMENTSnounUS /ˈredʒəmənts/
plural of “regiment” — army unit smaller than a division
From this reading OUR HIGHLAND REGIMENTS.
representedadjectiveUS /ˌreprɪˈzentɪd/
represented accurately or precisely
From this reading The great historian then proceeds to show that this estimate bordered very closely on the truth, and that the Highlanders were little better than they were represented to be.
ridiculenounUS /ˈrɪdəkjuːl/
language or behavior intended to mock or humiliate
From this reading Their dress, their language, and their manners were the subject of ridicule among their Southern neighbours, and their well-known attachment to the house of Stuart excited the suspicion and the distrust of the government of the day.
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
savagesnounUS /ˈsævədʒəz/
plural of “savage” — a member of an uncivilized people
From this reading About a century ago the Highlanders were regarded as little better than a race of savages.
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
not often
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The great historian then proceeds to show that this estimate bordered very closely on the truth, and that the Highlanders were little better than they were represented to be.
a person who is owned by someone
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Their dress, their language, and their manners were the subject of ridicule among their Southern neighbours, and their well-known attachment to the house of Stuart excited the suspicion and the distrust of the government of the day.
StuartnounUS /ˈstuːərt/
United States painter best known for his portraits of George Washington (1755-1828)
From this reading Their dress, their language, and their manners were the subject of ridicule among their Southern neighbours, and their well-known attachment to the house of Stuart excited the suspicion and the distrust of the government of the day.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading Their dress, their language, and their manners were the subject of ridicule among their Southern neighbours, and their well-known attachment to the house of Stuart excited the suspicion and the distrust of the government of the day.
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading Their dress, their language, and their manners were the subject of ridicule among their Southern neighbours, and their well-known attachment to the house of Stuart excited the suspicion and the distrust of the government of the day.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading About a century ago the Highlanders were regarded as little better than a race of savages.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading About a century ago the Highlanders were regarded as little better than a race of savages.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their dress, their language, and their manners were the subject of ridicule among their Southern neighbours, and their well-known attachment to the house of Stuart excited the suspicion and the distrust of the government of the day.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The great historian then proceeds to show that this estimate bordered very closely on the truth, and that the Highlanders were little better than they were represented to be.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
thiefnounUS /θiːf/
a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The great historian then proceeds to show that this estimate bordered very closely on the truth, and that the Highlanders were little better than they were represented to be.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Their dress, their language, and their manners were the subject of ridicule among their Southern neighbours, and their well-known attachment to the house of Stuart excited the suspicion and the distrust of the government of the day.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading The great historian then proceeds to show that this estimate bordered very closely on the truth, and that the Highlanders were little better than they were represented to be.
precisely as stated
From this reading The great historian then proceeds to show that this estimate bordered very closely on the truth, and that the Highlanders were little better than they were represented to be.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
well-knownadjectiveUS /ˈwelˈnoʊn/
widely or fully known
From this reading Their dress, their language, and their manners were the subject of ridicule among their Southern neighbours, and their well-known attachment to the house of Stuart excited the suspicion and the distrust of the government of the day.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading About a century ago the Highlanders were regarded as little better than a race of savages.
at the time that
From this reading “When the English thought of the Highlander at all,” says Macaulay—“and it was seldom that they did so—they considered him as a filthy, abject savage, a slave, a papist, a cut-throat, and a thief.”
