used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It is incomparably superior to Ghent, which is a far more important place, but in which I have never been fortunate.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I had originally visited Bruges about twenty years earlier.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was the first historical and consistently beautiful city I had ever seen, and even now it did not appear to have sunk much in my esteem.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It was the first historical and consistently beautiful city I had ever seen, and even now it did not appear to have sunk much in my esteem.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
attributenounUS /ˈætrəbjuːt/
a construct whereby objects or individuals can be distinguished
From this reading Ghent is gloomy, whereas Bruges is melancholy, a different and a finer attribute.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading It was the first historical and consistently beautiful city I had ever seen, and even now it did not appear to have sunk much in my esteem.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It is incomparably superior to Ghent, which is a far more important place, but in which I have never been fortunate.
BrugesnounUS /ˈbruːdʒɪz/
a city in northwestern Belgium that is connected by canal to the North Sea; in the 13th century it was a leading member of the Hanseatic League; the old city (known as the City of Bridges) is a popular tourist attraction
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It is incomparably superior to Ghent, which is a far more important place, but in which I have never been fortunate.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading It was the first historical and consistently beautiful city I had ever seen, and even now it did not appear to have sunk much in my esteem.
consistentlyadverbUS /kənˈsɪstəntli/
in a systematic or consistent manner
From this reading It was the first historical and consistently beautiful city I had ever seen, and even now it did not appear to have sunk much in my esteem.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It was the first historical and consistently beautiful city I had ever seen, and even now it did not appear to have sunk much in my esteem.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading Ghent is gloomy, whereas Bruges is melancholy, a different and a finer attribute.
earlier in time; previously
From this reading I had originally visited Bruges about twenty years earlier.
esteemnounUS /əˈstiːm/
the condition of being honored (esteemed or respected or well regarded)
From this reading It was the first historical and consistently beautiful city I had ever seen, and even now it did not appear to have sunk much in my esteem.
divisible by two
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
at any time
From this reading It was the first historical and consistently beautiful city I had ever seen, and even now it did not appear to have sunk much in my esteem.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading It is incomparably superior to Ghent, which is a far more important place, but in which I have never been fortunate.
fineradjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnər/
(comparative of “fine”) greater in quality or excellence
From this reading Ghent is gloomy, whereas Bruges is melancholy, a different and a finer attribute.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was the first historical and consistently beautiful city I had ever seen, and even now it did not appear to have sunk much in my esteem.
having unexpected good fortune
From this reading It is incomparably superior to Ghent, which is a far more important place, but in which I have never been fortunate.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
GhentnounUS /ɡent/
port city in northwestern Belgium and industrial center; famous for cloth industry
From this reading It is incomparably superior to Ghent, which is a far more important place, but in which I have never been fortunate.
depressingly dark
From this reading Ghent is gloomy, whereas Bruges is melancholy, a different and a finer attribute.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had originally visited Bruges about twenty years earlier.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was the first historical and consistently beautiful city I had ever seen, and even now it did not appear to have sunk much in my esteem.
historicaladjectiveUS /hɪˈstɔːrɪkəl/
of or relating to the study of history
From this reading It was the first historical and consistently beautiful city I had ever seen, and even now it did not appear to have sunk much in my esteem.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I had originally visited Bruges about twenty years earlier.
of great significance or value
From this reading It is incomparably superior to Ghent, which is a far more important place, but in which I have never been fortunate.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
incomparablyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈkɑːmpərəbli/
in an incomparable manner or to an incomparable degree
From this reading It is incomparably superior to Ghent, which is a far more important place, but in which I have never been fortunate.
irresistibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪrɪˈzɪstəbəl/
impossible to resist; overpowering
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is incomparably superior to Ghent, which is a far more important place, but in which I have never been fortunate.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the first historical and consistently beautiful city I had ever seen, and even now it did not appear to have sunk much in my esteem.
a feeling of thoughtful sadness
From this reading Ghent is gloomy, whereas Bruges is melancholy, a different and a finer attribute.
mooredverbUS /mʊrd/
past form of “moor” — secure in or as if in a berth or dock
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It is incomparably superior to Ghent, which is a far more important place, but in which I have never been fortunate.
used to form the superlative
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It was the first historical and consistently beautiful city I had ever seen, and even now it did not appear to have sunk much in my esteem.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It was the first historical and consistently beautiful city I had ever seen, and even now it did not appear to have sunk much in my esteem.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading It is incomparably superior to Ghent, which is a far more important place, but in which I have never been fortunate.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was the first historical and consistently beautiful city I had ever seen, and even now it did not appear to have sunk much in my esteem.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was the first historical and consistently beautiful city I had ever seen, and even now it did not appear to have sunk much in my esteem.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
originallyadverbUS /ərˈɪdʒənəli/
in an original manner
From this reading I had originally visited Bruges about twenty years earlier.
picturesqueadjectiveUS /ˈpɪktʃərəsk/
suggesting or suitable for a picture; pretty as a picture
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It is incomparably superior to Ghent, which is a far more important place, but in which I have never been fortunate.
Quai
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was the first historical and consistently beautiful city I had ever seen, and even now it did not appear to have sunk much in my esteem.
Spinola
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
sunkadjectiveUS /sʌŋk/
doomed to extinction
From this reading It was the first historical and consistently beautiful city I had ever seen, and even now it did not appear to have sunk much in my esteem.
of high or superior quality or performance
From this reading It is incomparably superior to Ghent, which is a far more important place, but in which I have never been fortunate.
temptationnounUS /temˈteɪʃən/
something that seduces or has the quality to seduce
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading I had originally visited Bruges about twenty years earlier.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
plural of “view” — a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
past form of “visit” — go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading I had originally visited Bruges about twenty years earlier.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the first historical and consistently beautiful city I had ever seen, and even now it did not appear to have sunk much in my esteem.
watercoloristnoun
a painter who paints with watercolors
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
whereasconjunctionUS /weˈræz/
in contrast with the fact that
From this reading Ghent is gloomy, whereas Bruges is melancholy, a different and a finer attribute.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It is incomparably superior to Ghent, which is a far more important place, but in which I have never been fortunate.
in the company of; together with
From this reading WE moored at the Quai Spinola, with one of the most picturesque views in Bruges in front of us, an irresistible temptation to the watercolorist, even in wet weather.
a late time of life
From this reading I had originally visited Bruges about twenty years earlier.
