used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Though everything remained green and flourishing in the plains below, the inheritance of the Three Brothers was a desert.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
adverseadjectiveUS /ædˈvɜːrs/
contrary to your interests or welfare
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
(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 All their money was gone, and they had nothing left but some curious, old-fashioned pieces of gold plate, the last remnants of their ill-gotten wealth.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Though everything remained green and flourishing in the plains below, the inheritance of the Three Brothers was a desert.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading So no rain fell in the valley from one year's end to another.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Suppose we turn goldsmiths?" said Schwartz to Hans, as they entered the large city.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Though everything remained green and flourishing in the plains below, the inheritance of the Three Brothers was a desert.
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading Though everything remained green and flourishing in the plains below, the inheritance of the Three Brothers was a desert.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading All their money was gone, and they had nothing left but some curious, old-fashioned pieces of gold plate, the last remnants of their ill-gotten wealth.
citiesnounUS /ˈsɪtiz/
plural of “city” — a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading "Suppose we turn goldsmiths?" said Schwartz to Hans, as they entered the large city.
contendverbUS /kənˈtend/
maintain or assert
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading All their money was gone, and they had nothing left but some curious, old-fashioned pieces of gold plate, the last remnants of their ill-gotten wealth.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading Though everything remained green and flourishing in the plains below, the inheritance of the Three Brothers was a desert.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading So no rain fell in the valley from one year's end to another.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading "Suppose we turn goldsmiths?" said Schwartz to Hans, as they entered the large city.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Though everything remained green and flourishing in the plains below, the inheritance of the Three Brothers was a desert.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading So no rain fell in the valley from one year's end to another.
flourishingadjectiveUS /ˈflɜːrɪʃɪŋ/
very lively and profitable
From this reading Though everything remained green and flourishing in the plains below, the inheritance of the Three Brothers was a desert.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading So no rain fell in the valley from one year's end to another.
gainingverbUS /ˈɡeɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
coins made of gold
From this reading All their money was gone, and they had nothing left but some curious, old-fashioned pieces of gold plate, the last remnants of their ill-gotten wealth.
goldsmiths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Suppose we turn goldsmiths?" said Schwartz to Hans, as they entered the large city.
destroyed or killed
From this reading All their money was gone, and they had nothing left but some curious, old-fashioned pieces of gold plate, the last remnants of their ill-gotten wealth.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Though everything remained green and flourishing in the plains below, the inheritance of the Three Brothers was a desert.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
HansnounUS /hɑːns/
plural of “han” — imperial dynasty that ruled China (most of the time from 206 BC to AD 220) and expanded its boundaries and developed its bureaucracy; remembered as one of the great eras of Chinese civilization
From this reading "Suppose we turn goldsmiths?" said Schwartz to Hans, as they entered the large city.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
ill-gottenadjective
obtained illegally or by improper means
From this reading All their money was gone, and they had nothing left but some curious, old-fashioned pieces of gold plate, the last remnants of their ill-gotten wealth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading So no rain fell in the valley from one year's end to another.
inheritancenounUS /ˌɪnˈherətəns/
hereditary succession to a title or an office or property
From this reading Though everything remained green and flourishing in the plains below, the inheritance of the Three Brothers was a desert.
a domain in which something is dominant
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Suppose we turn goldsmiths?" said Schwartz to Hans, as they entered the large city.
immediately past
From this reading All their money was gone, and they had nothing left but some curious, old-fashioned pieces of gold plate, the last remnants of their ill-gotten wealth.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading All their money was gone, and they had nothing left but some curious, old-fashioned pieces of gold plate, the last remnants of their ill-gotten wealth.
livelihoodnounUS /ˈlaɪvlihʊd/
the financial means whereby one lives
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
for more time
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading All their money was gone, and they had nothing left but some curious, old-fashioned pieces of gold plate, the last remnants of their ill-gotten wealth.
not any; not one
From this reading So no rain fell in the valley from one year's end to another.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading All their money was gone, and they had nothing left but some curious, old-fashioned pieces of gold plate, the last remnants of their ill-gotten wealth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Though everything remained green and flourishing in the plains below, the inheritance of the Three Brothers was a desert.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading All their money was gone, and they had nothing left but some curious, old-fashioned pieces of gold plate, the last remnants of their ill-gotten wealth.
on one occasion
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading So no rain fell in the valley from one year's end to another.
patrimonynounUS /ˈpætrəmoʊni/
a church endowment
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading All their money was gone, and they had nothing left but some curious, old-fashioned pieces of gold plate, the last remnants of their ill-gotten wealth.
plainsnounUS /pleɪnz/
plural of “plain” — extensive tract of level open land
From this reading Though everything remained green and flourishing in the plains below, the inheritance of the Three Brothers was a desert.
(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading All their money was gone, and they had nothing left but some curious, old-fashioned pieces of gold plate, the last remnants of their ill-gotten wealth.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading So no rain fell in the valley from one year's end to another.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Though everything remained green and flourishing in the plains below, the inheritance of the Three Brothers was a desert.
remnantsnounUS /ˈremnənts/
plural of “remnant” — a small part or portion that remains after the main part no longer exists
From this reading All their money was gone, and they had nothing left but some curious, old-fashioned pieces of gold plate, the last remnants of their ill-gotten wealth.
richestadjectiveUS /ˈrɪtʃəst/
superlative of “rich” — possessing material wealth
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Suppose we turn goldsmiths?" said Schwartz to Hans, as they entered the large city.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
Schwartz
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Suppose we turn goldsmiths?" said Schwartz to Hans, as they entered the large city.
try to get or reach
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
shiftingadjectiveUS /ˈʃɪftɪŋ/
continuously varying
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
skiesnounUS /skaɪz/
plural of “sky” — the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So no rain fell in the valley from one year's end to another.
the state of being covered with unclean things
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
express a supposition
From this reading "Suppose we turn goldsmiths?" said Schwartz to Hans, as they entered the large city.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading So no rain fell in the valley from one year's end to another.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading All their money was gone, and they had nothing left but some curious, old-fashioned pieces of gold plate, the last remnants of their ill-gotten wealth.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though everything remained green and flourishing in the plains below, the inheritance of the Three Brothers was a desert.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Though everything remained green and flourishing in the plains below, the inheritance of the Three Brothers was a desert.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading So no rain fell in the valley from one year's end to another.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading "Suppose we turn goldsmiths?" said Schwartz to Hans, as they entered the large city.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading So no rain fell in the valley from one year's end to another.
valuelessadjectiveUS /ˈvæljuːləs/
of no value
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Though everything remained green and flourishing in the plains below, the inheritance of the Three Brothers was a desert.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Suppose we turn goldsmiths?" said Schwartz to Hans, as they entered the large city.
the state of being rich and affluent; having a plentiful supply of material goods and money
From this reading All their money was gone, and they had nothing left but some curious, old-fashioned pieces of gold plate, the last remnants of their ill-gotten wealth.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
in the company of; together with
From this reading What had once been the richest soil in the kingdom, became a shifting heap of red sand; and the brothers, unable longer to contend with the adverse skies, abandoned their valueless patrimony in despair, to seek some means of gaining a livelihood among the cities and people of the plains.
year'snounUS /jɪrz/
possessive form of “year” — a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading So no rain fell in the valley from one year's end to another.
