used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Laurence Jen was a retired major, a bachelor, and the proprietor of a small estate at Hurstleigh, in Surrey.
the performance of a part or role in a drama
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
AfricanadjectiveUS /ˈæfrəkən/
of or relating to the nations of Africa or their peoples
From this reading In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Formerly the place had been called Sarbylands, after its original owners; but Jen had changed the name, in honor of the one campaign in which he had participated.
aguenounUS /ˈeɪɡjuː/
a fit of shivering or shaking
From this reading He had been present at the downfall of King Koffee; he had contracted during the expedition an ague which tormented him greatly during his later life, and he had received a wound and a medal.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had been present at the downfall of King Koffee; he had contracted during the expedition an ague which tormented him greatly during his later life, and he had received a wound and a medal.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Laurence Jen was a retired major, a bachelor, and the proprietor of a small estate at Hurstleigh, in Surrey.
appellationnounUS /ˌæpəˈleɪʃən/
identifying word or words by which someone or something is called and classified or distinguished from others
From this reading In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
Ashantee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Laurence Jen was a retired major, a bachelor, and the proprietor of a small estate at Hurstleigh, in Surrey.
bachelornounUS /ˈbætʃələr/
a man who has never been married
From this reading Laurence Jen was a retired major, a bachelor, and the proprietor of a small estate at Hurstleigh, in Surrey.
barbaricadjectiveUS /bɑːrˈbærɪk/
without civilizing influences
From this reading In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Formerly the place had been called Sarbylands, after its original owners; but Jen had changed the name, in honor of the one campaign in which he had participated.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Formerly the place had been called Sarbylands, after its original owners; but Jen had changed the name, in honor of the one campaign in which he had participated.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Formerly the place had been called Sarbylands, after its original owners; but Jen had changed the name, in honor of the one campaign in which he had participated.
campaignnounUS /kæmˈpeɪn/
a race between candidates for elective office
From this reading Formerly the place had been called Sarbylands, after its original owners; but Jen had changed the name, in honor of the one campaign in which he had participated.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading Formerly the place had been called Sarbylands, after its original owners; but Jen had changed the name, in honor of the one campaign in which he had participated.
contractedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːntræktəd/
reduced in size or pulled together
From this reading He had been present at the downfall of King Koffee; he had contracted during the expedition an ague which tormented him greatly during his later life, and he had received a wound and a medal.
convertedverbUS /kənˈvɜːrtɪd/
past form of “convert” — change from one system to another or to a new plan or policy
From this reading In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
recognizable; marked
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
downfallnounUS /ˈdaʊnfɔːl/
failure that results in a loss of position or reputation
From this reading He had been present at the downfall of King Koffee; he had contracted during the expedition an ague which tormented him greatly during his later life, and he had received a wound and a medal.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading He had been present at the downfall of King Koffee; he had contracted during the expedition an ague which tormented him greatly during his later life, and he had received a wound and a medal.
everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities
From this reading Laurence Jen was a retired major, a bachelor, and the proprietor of a small estate at Hurstleigh, in Surrey.
a military campaign designed to achieve a specific objective in a foreign country
From this reading He had been present at the downfall of King Koffee; he had contracted during the expedition an ague which tormented him greatly during his later life, and he had received a wound and a medal.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
FormerlyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrmərli/
at a previous time
From this reading Formerly the place had been called Sarbylands, after its original owners; but Jen had changed the name, in honor of the one campaign in which he had participated.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
giftsnounUS /ɡɪfts/
plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation
From this reading In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation
From this reading In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading He had been present at the downfall of King Koffee; he had contracted during the expedition an ague which tormented him greatly during his later life, and he had received a wound and a medal.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Formerly the place had been called Sarbylands, after its original owners; but Jen had changed the name, in honor of the one campaign in which he had participated.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had been present at the downfall of King Koffee; he had contracted during the expedition an ague which tormented him greatly during his later life, and he had received a wound and a medal.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had been present at the downfall of King Koffee; he had contracted during the expedition an ague which tormented him greatly during his later life, and he had received a wound and a medal.
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading Formerly the place had been called Sarbylands, after its original owners; but Jen had changed the name, in honor of the one campaign in which he had participated.
Hurstleigh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laurence Jen was a retired major, a bachelor, and the proprietor of a small estate at Hurstleigh, in Surrey.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Laurence Jen was a retired major, a bachelor, and the proprietor of a small estate at Hurstleigh, in Surrey.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
ironynounUS /ˈaɪrəni/
witty language used to convey insults or scorn
From this reading In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Formerly the place had been called Sarbylands, after its original owners; but Jen had changed the name, in honor of the one campaign in which he had participated.
Jen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laurence Jen was a retired major, a bachelor, and the proprietor of a small estate at Hurstleigh, in Surrey.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading He had been present at the downfall of King Koffee; he had contracted during the expedition an ague which tormented him greatly during his later life, and he had received a wound and a medal.
a domain in which something is dominant
From this reading In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
Koffee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been present at the downfall of King Koffee; he had contracted during the expedition an ague which tormented him greatly during his later life, and he had received a wound and a medal.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading He had been present at the downfall of King Koffee; he had contracted during the expedition an ague which tormented him greatly during his later life, and he had received a wound and a medal.
Laurence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laurence Jen was a retired major, a bachelor, and the proprietor of a small estate at Hurstleigh, in Surrey.
the act of departing
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He had been present at the downfall of King Koffee; he had contracted during the expedition an ague which tormented him greatly during his later life, and he had received a wound and a medal.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
majoradjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/
of greater importance or stature or rank
From this reading Laurence Jen was a retired major, a bachelor, and the proprietor of a small estate at Hurstleigh, in Surrey.
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 In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
medalnounUS /ˈmedəl/
an award for winning a championship or commemorating some other event
From this reading He had been present at the downfall of King Koffee; he had contracted during the expedition an ague which tormented him greatly during his later life, and he had received a wound and a medal.
minnownounUS /ˈmɪnoʊ/
very small European freshwater fish common in gravelly streams
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Formerly the place had been called Sarbylands, after its original owners; but Jen had changed the name, in honor of the one campaign in which he had participated.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Laurence Jen was a retired major, a bachelor, and the proprietor of a small estate at Hurstleigh, in Surrey.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Formerly the place had been called Sarbylands, after its original owners; but Jen had changed the name, in honor of the one campaign in which he had participated.
preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed
From this reading Formerly the place had been called Sarbylands, after its original owners; but Jen had changed the name, in honor of the one campaign in which he had participated.
ownersnounUS /ˈoʊnərz/
plural of “owner” — (law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading Formerly the place had been called Sarbylands, after its original owners; but Jen had changed the name, in honor of the one campaign in which he had participated.
participatedverbUS /pɑːrˈtɪsəpeɪtɪd/
past form of “participate” — share in something
From this reading Formerly the place had been called Sarbylands, after its original owners; but Jen had changed the name, in honor of the one campaign in which he had participated.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Formerly the place had been called Sarbylands, after its original owners; but Jen had changed the name, in honor of the one campaign in which he had participated.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading He had been present at the downfall of King Koffee; he had contracted during the expedition an ague which tormented him greatly during his later life, and he had received a wound and a medal.
presumedverbUS /prəˈzuːmd/
past form of “presume” — take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof
From this reading In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
proprietornounUS /prəˈpraɪətər/
(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading Laurence Jen was a retired major, a bachelor, and the proprietor of a small estate at Hurstleigh, in Surrey.
purchasedverbUS /ˈpɜːrtʃəst/
past form of “purchase” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading He had been present at the downfall of King Koffee; he had contracted during the expedition an ague which tormented him greatly during his later life, and he had received a wound and a medal.
no longer active in your work or profession
From this reading Laurence Jen was a retired major, a bachelor, and the proprietor of a small estate at Hurstleigh, in Surrey.
destroyed physically or morally
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
Sarbylands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Formerly the place had been called Sarbylands, after its original owners; but Jen had changed the name, in honor of the one campaign in which he had participated.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Laurence Jen was a retired major, a bachelor, and the proprietor of a small estate at Hurstleigh, in Surrey.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
young nobleman attendant on a knight
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
SurreynounUS /ˈsɜːri/
a county in southeastern England on the Thames
From this reading Laurence Jen was a retired major, a bachelor, and the proprietor of a small estate at Hurstleigh, in Surrey.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Laurence Jen was a retired major, a bachelor, and the proprietor of a small estate at Hurstleigh, in Surrey.
a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
tormentedadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrmentɪd/
experiencing intense pain especially mental pain
From this reading He had been present at the downfall of King Koffee; he had contracted during the expedition an ague which tormented him greatly during his later life, and he had received a wound and a medal.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
TritonnounUS /ˈtraɪtən/
(Greek mythology) a sea god; son of Poseidon
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
unwiselyadverbUS /ənˈwaɪzli/
without good sense or judgment
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading On leaving the service, he decided--not unwisely--that it was better to be a Triton in the country than a minnow in town; and acting upon this theory he purchased "Ashantee" from a ruined squire.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Laurence Jen was a retired major, a bachelor, and the proprietor of a small estate at Hurstleigh, in Surrey.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Formerly the place had been called Sarbylands, after its original owners; but Jen had changed the name, in honor of the one campaign in which he had participated.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading He had been present at the downfall of King Koffee; he had contracted during the expedition an ague which tormented him greatly during his later life, and he had received a wound and a medal.
a late time of life
From this reading In gratitude, it is to be presumed, for these gifts of fortune, the major, with some irony, had converted the name Sarbylands into the barbaric appellation of a West African kingdom; and here, for many years, he lived with his two boys.
