used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A WELL.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was strange, however, how many people at about the same time had determined to do the same thing; it seemed as though the entire village had been seized with a mania for sinking wells.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Well-digging is a profession, and the most cultivated master of the art to be found in the neighborhood had been engaged, immediately after the foundation of the house was commenced, to dig the well.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Well-digging is a profession, and the most cultivated master of the art to be found in the neighborhood had been engaged, immediately after the foundation of the house was commenced, to dig the well.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading Well-digging is a profession, and the most cultivated master of the art to be found in the neighborhood had been engaged, immediately after the foundation of the house was commenced, to dig the well.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was strange, however, how many people at about the same time had determined to do the same thing; it seemed as though the entire village had been seized with a mania for sinking wells.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was strange, however, how many people at about the same time had determined to do the same thing; it seemed as though the entire village had been seized with a mania for sinking wells.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Well-digging is a profession, and the most cultivated master of the art to be found in the neighborhood had been engaged, immediately after the foundation of the house was commenced, to dig the well.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Well-digging is a profession, and the most cultivated master of the art to be found in the neighborhood had been engaged, immediately after the foundation of the house was commenced, to dig the well.
being joined in close association
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
cultivatedadjectiveUS /ˈkʌltəveɪtɪd/
(of land or fields) prepared for raising crops by plowing or fertilizing
From this reading Well-digging is a profession, and the most cultivated master of the art to be found in the neighborhood had been engaged, immediately after the foundation of the house was commenced, to dig the well.
deservesverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrvz/
third-person singular of “deserve” — be worthy or deserving
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
characterized by great determination
From this reading It was strange, however, how many people at about the same time had determined to do the same thing; it seemed as though the entire village had been seized with a mania for sinking wells.
digverbUS /dɪɡ/
turn up, loosen, or remove earth
From this reading Well-digging is a profession, and the most cultivated master of the art to be found in the neighborhood had been engaged, immediately after the foundation of the house was commenced, to dig the well.
diggingnounUS /ˈdɪɡɪŋ/
the act of digging
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It was strange, however, how many people at about the same time had determined to do the same thing; it seemed as though the entire village had been seized with a mania for sinking wells.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading “If ’twere well done when ’twere done, ’twere well ’twere done quickly.”
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading Well-digging is a profession, and the most cultivated master of the art to be found in the neighborhood had been engaged, immediately after the foundation of the house was commenced, to dig the well.
constituting the full quantity or extent; complete
From this reading It was strange, however, how many people at about the same time had determined to do the same thing; it seemed as though the entire village had been seized with a mania for sinking wells.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was strange, however, how many people at about the same time had determined to do the same thing; it seemed as though the entire village had been seized with a mania for sinking wells.
set up or found
From this reading Well-digging is a profession, and the most cultivated master of the art to be found in the neighborhood had been engaged, immediately after the foundation of the house was commenced, to dig the well.
foundationnounUS /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/
the basis on which something is grounded
From this reading Well-digging is a profession, and the most cultivated master of the art to be found in the neighborhood had been engaged, immediately after the foundation of the house was commenced, to dig the well.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Well-digging is a profession, and the most cultivated master of the art to be found in the neighborhood had been engaged, immediately after the foundation of the house was commenced, to dig the well.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Well-digging is a profession, and the most cultivated master of the art to be found in the neighborhood had been engaged, immediately after the foundation of the house was commenced, to dig the well.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was strange, however, how many people at about the same time had determined to do the same thing; it seemed as though the entire village had been seized with a mania for sinking wells.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading It was strange, however, how many people at about the same time had determined to do the same thing; it seemed as though the entire village had been seized with a mania for sinking wells.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “If ’twere well done when ’twere done, ’twere well ’twere done quickly.”
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Well-digging is a profession, and the most cultivated master of the art to be found in the neighborhood had been engaged, immediately after the foundation of the house was commenced, to dig the well.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Well-digging is a profession, and the most cultivated master of the art to be found in the neighborhood had been engaged, immediately after the foundation of the house was commenced, to dig the well.
incidentsnounUS /ˈɪnsədənts/
plural of “incident” — a single distinct event
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
manianounUS /ˈmeɪniə/
an irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action
From this reading It was strange, however, how many people at about the same time had determined to do the same thing; it seemed as though the entire village had been seized with a mania for sinking wells.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading It was strange, however, how many people at about the same time had determined to do the same thing; it seemed as though the entire village had been seized with a mania for sinking wells.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading Well-digging is a profession, and the most cultivated master of the art to be found in the neighborhood had been engaged, immediately after the foundation of the house was commenced, to dig the well.
modenounUS /moʊd/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Well-digging is a profession, and the most cultivated master of the art to be found in the neighborhood had been engaged, immediately after the foundation of the house was commenced, to dig the well.
absolutely essential
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
neighborhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading Well-digging is a profession, and the most cultivated master of the art to be found in the neighborhood had been engaged, immediately after the foundation of the house was commenced, to dig the well.
obtainingverbUS /əbˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading It was strange, however, how many people at about the same time had determined to do the same thing; it seemed as though the entire village had been seized with a mania for sinking wells.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
the body of people in a learned occupation
From this reading Well-digging is a profession, and the most cultivated master of the art to be found in the neighborhood had been engaged, immediately after the foundation of the house was commenced, to dig the well.
with speed
From this reading “If ’twere well done when ’twere done, ’twere well ’twere done quickly.”
referredverbUS /rəˈfɜːrd/
inflected form of “refer” — make reference to
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
Identical; not different.
From this reading It was strange, however, how many people at about the same time had determined to do the same thing; it seemed as though the entire village had been seized with a mania for sinking wells.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It was strange, however, how many people at about the same time had determined to do the same thing; it seemed as though the entire village had been seized with a mania for sinking wells.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading It was strange, however, how many people at about the same time had determined to do the same thing; it seemed as though the entire village had been seized with a mania for sinking wells.
act as a barrier between; stand between
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
sinkingnounUS /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/
a descent as through liquid (especially through water)
From this reading It was strange, however, how many people at about the same time had determined to do the same thing; it seemed as though the entire village had been seized with a mania for sinking wells.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading It was strange, however, how many people at about the same time had determined to do the same thing; it seemed as though the entire village had been seized with a mania for sinking wells.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
a special situation
From this reading It was strange, however, how many people at about the same time had determined to do the same thing; it seemed as though the entire village had been seized with a mania for sinking wells.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It was strange, however, how many people at about the same time had determined to do the same thing; it seemed as though the entire village had been seized with a mania for sinking wells.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was strange, however, how many people at about the same time had determined to do the same thing; it seemed as though the entire village had been seized with a mania for sinking wells.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
twere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If ’twere well done when ’twere done, ’twere well ’twere done quickly.”
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading It was strange, however, how many people at about the same time had determined to do the same thing; it seemed as though the entire village had been seized with a mania for sinking wells.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Well-digging is a profession, and the most cultivated master of the art to be found in the neighborhood had been engaged, immediately after the foundation of the house was commenced, to dig the well.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading A WELL.
Well-digging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well-digging is a profession, and the most cultivated master of the art to be found in the neighborhood had been engaged, immediately after the foundation of the house was commenced, to dig the well.
wellsnounUS /welz/
prolific English writer best known for his science-fiction novels; he also wrote on contemporary social problems and wrote popular accounts of history and science (1866-1946)
From this reading It was strange, however, how many people at about the same time had determined to do the same thing; it seemed as though the entire village had been seized with a mania for sinking wells.
at the time that
From this reading “If ’twere well done when ’twere done, ’twere well ’twere done quickly.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading Some of the incidents connected with digging our well have already been referred to, but good water is so necessary to a country place that the mode of obtaining it deserves a separate chapter.
