used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The god Siva then lived on the top of a high mountain, and spent his time in thought.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Up over his head above the mountains the Princess Ganga lived free as the wind.
in the past
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading She was the daughter of King Himalaya, and the air nymph Menaka, and so her home was in the air among the heights.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading She was the daughter of King Himalaya, and the air nymph Menaka, and so her home was in the air among the heights.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Up over his head above the mountains the Princess Ganga lived free as the wind.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
completely unclothed
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading At that time there lived a very wise man on earth, and, as he looked at the burning plains of India, and thought of the air princess, he said to himself, “If she would only give up her freedom and become a river, how she could enrich and purify the earth.”
the act of burning something
From this reading At that time there lived a very wise man on earth, and, as he looked at the burning plains of India, and thought of the air princess, he said to himself, “If she would only give up her freedom and become a river, how she could enrich and purify the earth.”
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading At that time there lived a very wise man on earth, and, as he looked at the burning plains of India, and thought of the air princess, he said to himself, “If she would only give up her freedom and become a river, how she could enrich and purify the earth.”
a female human offspring
From this reading She was the daughter of King Himalaya, and the air nymph Menaka, and so her home was in the air among the heights.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading At that time there lived a very wise man on earth, and, as he looked at the burning plains of India, and thought of the air princess, he said to himself, “If she would only give up her freedom and become a river, how she could enrich and purify the earth.”
enrichverbUS /enˈrɪtʃ/
make better or improve in quality
From this reading At that time there lived a very wise man on earth, and, as he looked at the burning plains of India, and thought of the air princess, he said to himself, “If she would only give up her freedom and become a river, how she could enrich and purify the earth.”
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading Up over his head above the mountains the Princess Ganga lived free as the wind.
the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
From this reading At that time there lived a very wise man on earth, and, as he looked at the burning plains of India, and thought of the air princess, he said to himself, “If she would only give up her freedom and become a river, how she could enrich and purify the earth.”
fruitlessadjectiveUS /ˈfruːtləs/
unproductive of success
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
Ganga
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up over his head above the mountains the Princess Ganga lived free as the wind.
GANGESnounUS /ˈɡændʒiz/
an Asian river; rises in the Himalayas and flows east into the Bay of Bengal; a sacred river of the Hindus
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading At that time there lived a very wise man on earth, and, as he looked at the burning plains of India, and thought of the air princess, he said to himself, “If she would only give up her freedom and become a river, how she could enrich and purify the earth.”
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading The god Siva then lived on the top of a high mountain, and spent his time in thought.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At that time there lived a very wise man on earth, and, as he looked at the burning plains of India, and thought of the air princess, he said to himself, “If she would only give up her freedom and become a river, how she could enrich and purify the earth.”
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Up over his head above the mountains the Princess Ganga lived free as the wind.
heightsnounUS /haɪts/
a high place
From this reading She was the daughter of King Himalaya, and the air nymph Menaka, and so her home was in the air among the heights.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was the daughter of King Himalaya, and the air nymph Menaka, and so her home was in the air among the heights.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The god Siva then lived on the top of a high mountain, and spent his time in thought.
HimalayanounUS /ˌhɪməˈlaɪə/
a mountain range extending 1500 miles on the border between India and Tibet; this range contains the world's highest mountain
From this reading She was the daughter of King Himalaya, and the air nymph Menaka, and so her home was in the air among the heights.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading At that time there lived a very wise man on earth, and, as he looked at the burning plains of India, and thought of the air princess, he said to himself, “If she would only give up her freedom and become a river, how she could enrich and purify the earth.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The god Siva then lived on the top of a high mountain, and spent his time in thought.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading She was the daughter of King Himalaya, and the air nymph Menaka, and so her home was in the air among the heights.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At that time there lived a very wise man on earth, and, as he looked at the burning plains of India, and thought of the air princess, he said to himself, “If she would only give up her freedom and become a river, how she could enrich and purify the earth.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading At that time there lived a very wise man on earth, and, as he looked at the burning plains of India, and thought of the air princess, he said to himself, “If she would only give up her freedom and become a river, how she could enrich and purify the earth.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The god Siva then lived on the top of a high mountain, and spent his time in thought.
a republic in the Asian subcontinent in southern Asia; second most populous country in the world; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading She was the daughter of King Himalaya, and the air nymph Menaka, and so her home was in the air among the heights.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading The god Siva then lived on the top of a high mountain, and spent his time in thought.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading At that time there lived a very wise man on earth, and, as he looked at the burning plains of India, and thought of the air princess, he said to himself, “If she would only give up her freedom and become a river, how she could enrich and purify the earth.”
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading At that time there lived a very wise man on earth, and, as he looked at the burning plains of India, and thought of the air princess, he said to himself, “If she would only give up her freedom and become a river, how she could enrich and purify the earth.”
Menaka
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was the daughter of King Himalaya, and the air nymph Menaka, and so her home was in the air among the heights.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading The god Siva then lived on the top of a high mountain, and spent his time in thought.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
not any; not one
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
nymphnounUS /nɪmf/
(classical mythology) a minor nature goddess usually depicted as a beautiful maiden
From this reading She was the daughter of King Himalaya, and the air nymph Menaka, and so her home was in the air among the heights.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The god Siva then lived on the top of a high mountain, and spent his time in thought.
and nothing more
From this reading At that time there lived a very wise man on earth, and, as he looked at the burning plains of India, and thought of the air princess, he said to himself, “If she would only give up her freedom and become a river, how she could enrich and purify the earth.”
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Up over his head above the mountains the Princess Ganga lived free as the wind.
plainsnounUS /pleɪnz/
plural of “plain” — extensive tract of level open land
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.
From this reading Up over his head above the mountains the Princess Ganga lived free as the wind.
purifyverbUS /ˈpjʊrəfaɪ/
remove impurities from, increase the concentration of, and separate through the process of distillation
From this reading At that time there lived a very wise man on earth, and, as he looked at the burning plains of India, and thought of the air princess, he said to himself, “If she would only give up her freedom and become a river, how she could enrich and purify the earth.”
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading At that time there lived a very wise man on earth, and, as he looked at the burning plains of India, and thought of the air princess, he said to himself, “If she would only give up her freedom and become a river, how she could enrich and purify the earth.”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was the daughter of King Himalaya, and the air nymph Menaka, and so her home was in the air among the heights.
Sivanoun
the auspicious one; a major divinity in the later Hindu pantheon
From this reading The god Siva then lived on the top of a high mountain, and spent his time in thought.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She was the daughter of King Himalaya, and the air nymph Menaka, and so her home was in the air among the heights.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading The god Siva then lived on the top of a high mountain, and spent his time in thought.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
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 STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At that time there lived a very wise man on earth, and, as he looked at the burning plains of India, and thought of the air princess, he said to himself, “If she would only give up her freedom and become a river, how she could enrich and purify the earth.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The god Siva then lived on the top of a high mountain, and spent his time in thought.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The god Siva then lived on the top of a high mountain, and spent his time in thought.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The god Siva then lived on the top of a high mountain, and spent his time in thought.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At that time there lived a very wise man on earth, and, as he looked at the burning plains of India, and thought of the air princess, he said to himself, “If she would only give up her freedom and become a river, how she could enrich and purify the earth.”
the upper part of anything
From this reading The god Siva then lived on the top of a high mountain, and spent his time in thought.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Up over his head above the mountains the Princess Ganga lived free as the wind.
precisely as stated
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Up over his head above the mountains the Princess Ganga lived free as the wind.
having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading At that time there lived a very wise man on earth, and, as he looked at the burning plains of India, and thought of the air princess, he said to himself, “If she would only give up her freedom and become a river, how she could enrich and purify the earth.”
world'snounUS /wɜːrldz/
possessive form of “world” — everything that exists anywhere
From this reading THE STORY OF THE GANGES Very long ago, though the mountains stood at the world’s centre, and India lay at their feet, there was no Ganges river, and the plains lay bare and fruitless.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading At that time there lived a very wise man on earth, and, as he looked at the burning plains of India, and thought of the air princess, he said to himself, “If she would only give up her freedom and become a river, how she could enrich and purify the earth.”
