used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
tending to become more severe or wider in scope
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
in the past
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The fickle winds drove ships out of their course and baffled their efforts to hold on their way to their destination.
ArabiannounUS /əˈreɪbiən/
a member of a Semitic people originally from the Arabian peninsula and surrounding territories who speaks Arabic and who inhabits much of the Middle East and northern Africa
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
bafflednounUS /ˈbæfəld/
people who are frustrated and perplexed
From this reading The fickle winds drove ships out of their course and baffled their efforts to hold on their way to their destination.
bedsnounUS /bedz/
plural of “bed” — a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading On land the rapidity of progress from place to place was measured by the fleetness of a horse.
CalifornianounUS /ˌkæləˈfɔːrnjə/
a state in the western United States on the Pacific; the 3rd largest state; known for earthquakes
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
a period of 100 years
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
relating to or characteristic of Christianity
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading The fickle winds drove ships out of their course and baffled their efforts to hold on their way to their destination.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
destinationnounUS /ˌdestəˈneɪʃən/
the place designated as the end (as of a race or journey)
From this reading The fickle winds drove ships out of their course and baffled their efforts to hold on their way to their destination.
devicesnounUS /dɪˈvaɪsəz/
an inclination or desire; used in the plural in the phrase “left to your own devices”
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading The fickle winds drove ships out of their course and baffled their efforts to hold on their way to their destination.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The fickle winds drove ships out of their course and baffled their efforts to hold on their way to their destination.
electricaladjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪkəl/
relating to or concerned with electricity
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
eranounUS /ˈerə/
a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
fablenounUS /ˈfeɪbəl/
a deliberately false or improbable account
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
fickleadjectiveUS /ˈfɪkəl/
marked by erratic changeableness in affections or attachments
From this reading The fickle winds drove ships out of their course and baffled their efforts to hold on their way to their destination.
fleetnessnoun
rapidity of movement
From this reading On land the rapidity of progress from place to place was measured by the fleetness of a horse.
fountainnounUS /ˈfaʊntən/
a structure from which an artificially produced jet of water arises
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
glitteringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪtərɪŋ/
having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
coins made of gold
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The fickle winds drove ships out of their course and baffled their efforts to hold on their way to their destination.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading On land the rapidity of progress from place to place was measured by the fleetness of a horse.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
infancynounUS /ˈɪnfənsi/
the early stage of growth or development
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
INTRODUCTORYadjectiveUS /ˌɪntrəˈdʌktəri/
serving to open or begin
From this reading INTRODUCTORY.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading On land the rapidity of progress from place to place was measured by the fleetness of a horse.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
measuredadjectiveUS /ˈmeʒərd/
having notes of fixed rhythmic value
From this reading On land the rapidity of progress from place to place was measured by the fleetness of a horse.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The fickle winds drove ships out of their course and baffled their efforts to hold on their way to their destination.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The fickle winds drove ships out of their course and baffled their efforts to hold on their way to their destination.
and nothing more
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The fickle winds drove ships out of their course and baffled their efforts to hold on their way to their destination.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading On land the rapidity of progress from place to place was measured by the fleetness of a horse.
rapiditynounUS /rəˈpɪdəti/
a rate that is rapid
From this reading On land the rapidity of progress from place to place was measured by the fleetness of a horse.
with speed
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading The fickle winds drove ships out of their course and baffled their efforts to hold on their way to their destination.
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
steam-engine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
not in physical motion
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
streamsnounUS /striːmz/
plural of “stream” — a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
plural of “tale” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
telegraphnounUS /ˈteləɡræf/
apparatus used to communicate at a distance over a wire (usually in Morse code)
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The fickle winds drove ships out of their course and baffled their efforts to hold on their way to their destination.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
unheededadjectiveUS /ənˈhiːdɪd/
disregarded
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
unseenadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːn/
not seen or perceived
From this reading The steam-engine was in its infancy; the telegraph and other electrical devices were only known through the fable of the singing tree and the talking fountain in the tales of the Arabian Nights; glittering gold still lay unheeded and unseen in the beds of California streams.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On land the rapidity of progress from place to place was measured by the fleetness of a horse.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The fickle winds drove ships out of their course and baffled their efforts to hold on their way to their destination.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The fickle winds drove ships out of their course and baffled their efforts to hold on their way to their destination.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Half a century or less ago, the people then active in the world were unable to move from place to place more rapidly than in the days before the Christian era.
