used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to bring it to a termination, any more than they have been able to finish Paris.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to bring it to a termination, any more than they have been able to finish Paris.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Within the bosom of the earth, it is a sort of mysterious polyp with a thousand antennæ, which expands below as the city expands above.
(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 The sewer, in fact, receives all the counter-shocks of the growth of Paris.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Every time that the city cuts a street, the sewer stretches out an arm.
antennæ
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within the bosom of the earth, it is a sort of mysterious polyp with a thousand antennæ, which expands below as the city expands above.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to bring it to a termination, any more than they have been able to finish Paris.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading Every time that the city cuts a street, the sewer stretches out an arm.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Within the bosom of the earth, it is a sort of mysterious polyp with a thousand antennæ, which expands below as the city expands above.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to bring it to a termination, any more than they have been able to finish Paris.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The excavation of the sewer of Paris has been no slight task.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to bring it to a termination, any more than they have been able to finish Paris.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Within the bosom of the earth, it is a sort of mysterious polyp with a thousand antennæ, which expands below as the city expands above.
the chest considered as the place where secret thoughts are kept
From this reading Within the bosom of the earth, it is a sort of mysterious polyp with a thousand antennæ, which expands below as the city expands above.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to bring it to a termination, any more than they have been able to finish Paris.
centuriesnounUS /ˈsentʃəriz/
plural of “century” — a period of 100 years
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to bring it to a termination, any more than they have been able to finish Paris.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading Within the bosom of the earth, it is a sort of mysterious polyp with a thousand antennæ, which expands below as the city expands above.
counter-shocks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sewer, in fact, receives all the counter-shocks of the growth of Paris.
cutsnounUS /kʌts/
plural of “cut” — a share of the profits
From this reading Every time that the city cuts a street, the sewer stretches out an arm.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Within the bosom of the earth, it is a sort of mysterious polyp with a thousand antennæ, which expands below as the city expands above.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every time that the city cuts a street, the sewer stretches out an arm.
excavationnounUS /ˌekskəˈveɪʃən/
the act of digging
From this reading The excavation of the sewer of Paris has been no slight task.
expandsverbUS /ɪkˈspændz/
third-person singular of “expand” — extend in one or more directions
From this reading Within the bosom of the earth, it is a sort of mysterious polyp with a thousand antennæ, which expands below as the city expands above.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading The sewer, in fact, receives all the counter-shocks of the growth of Paris.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to bring it to a termination, any more than they have been able to finish Paris.
growthnounUS /ɡroʊθ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading The sewer, in fact, receives all the counter-shocks of the growth of Paris.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The excavation of the sewer of Paris has been no slight task.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to bring it to a termination, any more than they have been able to finish Paris.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The sewer, in fact, receives all the counter-shocks of the growth of Paris.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Within the bosom of the earth, it is a sort of mysterious polyp with a thousand antennæ, which expands below as the city expands above.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to bring it to a termination, any more than they have been able to finish Paris.
immediately past
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to bring it to a termination, any more than they have been able to finish Paris.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to bring it to a termination, any more than they have been able to finish Paris.
of an obscure nature
From this reading Within the bosom of the earth, it is a sort of mysterious polyp with a thousand antennæ, which expands below as the city expands above.
not any; not one
From this reading The excavation of the sewer of Paris has been no slight task.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The excavation of the sewer of Paris has been no slight task.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Every time that the city cuts a street, the sewer stretches out an arm.
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading The excavation of the sewer of Paris has been no slight task.
polypnounUS /ˈpɑːlɪp/
a small vascular growth on the surface of a mucous membrane
From this reading Within the bosom of the earth, it is a sort of mysterious polyp with a thousand antennæ, which expands below as the city expands above.
receivesverbUS /rəˈsiːvz/
third-person singular of “receive” — get something; come into possession of
From this reading The sewer, in fact, receives all the counter-shocks of the growth of Paris.
sewernounUS /ˈsuːər/
a waste pipe that carries away sewage or surface water
From this reading The excavation of the sewer of Paris has been no slight task.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading The excavation of the sewer of Paris has been no slight task.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Within the bosom of the earth, it is a sort of mysterious polyp with a thousand antennæ, which expands below as the city expands above.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Every time that the city cuts a street, the sewer stretches out an arm.
stretchesnounUS /ˈstretʃəz/
plural of “stretch” — a large and unbroken expanse or distance
From this reading Every time that the city cuts a street, the sewer stretches out an arm.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading The excavation of the sewer of Paris has been no slight task.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to bring it to a termination, any more than they have been able to finish Paris.
terminationnounUS /tərməˈneɪʃən/
a coming to an end of a contract period
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to bring it to a termination, any more than they have been able to finish Paris.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to bring it to a termination, any more than they have been able to finish Paris.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Every time that the city cuts a street, the sewer stretches out an arm.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The excavation of the sewer of Paris has been no slight task.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to bring it to a termination, any more than they have been able to finish Paris.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading Within the bosom of the earth, it is a sort of mysterious polyp with a thousand antennæ, which expands below as the city expands above.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Every time that the city cuts a street, the sewer stretches out an arm.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to bring it to a termination, any more than they have been able to finish Paris.
toiledverbUS /tɔɪld/
past form of “toil” — work hard
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to bring it to a termination, any more than they have been able to finish Paris.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Within the bosom of the earth, it is a sort of mysterious polyp with a thousand antennæ, which expands below as the city expands above.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Within the bosom of the earth, it is a sort of mysterious polyp with a thousand antennæ, which expands below as the city expands above.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Within the bosom of the earth, it is a sort of mysterious polyp with a thousand antennæ, which expands below as the city expands above.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to bring it to a termination, any more than they have been able to finish Paris.
