used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As dreary a place as was ever seen; at the head of a narrow mountain-gorge, with mountains towering over it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading We had stopped at the gate of an old farmhouse, built with massive boulder stones, laid dry, and flushed in with mortar.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We had stopped at the gate of an old farmhouse, built with massive boulder stones, laid dry, and flushed in with mortar.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The house looked just like a low church-tower, and might have been taken for one at a distance if there had been any battlements.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As dreary a place as was ever seen; at the head of a narrow mountain-gorge, with mountains towering over it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We had stopped at the gate of an old farmhouse, built with massive boulder stones, laid dry, and flushed in with mortar.
battlementsnounUS /ˈbætəlmənts/
plural of “battlement” — a rampart built around the top of a castle with regular gaps for firing arrows or guns
From this reading The house looked just like a low church-tower, and might have been taken for one at a distance if there had been any battlements.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It seemed to be four or five hundred years old, and perhaps belonged to some petty chief in the days of Owen Glendower.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading It seemed to be four or five hundred years old, and perhaps belonged to some petty chief in the days of Owen Glendower.
bouldernounUS /ˈboʊldər/
a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin
From this reading We had stopped at the gate of an old farmhouse, built with massive boulder stones, laid dry, and flushed in with mortar.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading We had stopped at the gate of an old farmhouse, built with massive boulder stones, laid dry, and flushed in with mortar.
of a particle or body or system; having a net amount of positive or negative electric charge
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
a person who is in charge
From this reading It seemed to be four or five hundred years old, and perhaps belonged to some petty chief in the days of Owen Glendower.
church-tower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house looked just like a low church-tower, and might have been taken for one at a distance if there had been any battlements.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It seemed to be four or five hundred years old, and perhaps belonged to some petty chief in the days of Owen Glendower.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading The house looked just like a low church-tower, and might have been taken for one at a distance if there had been any battlements.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading As dreary a place as was ever seen; at the head of a narrow mountain-gorge, with mountains towering over it.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading We had stopped at the gate of an old farmhouse, built with massive boulder stones, laid dry, and flushed in with mortar.
at any time
From this reading As dreary a place as was ever seen; at the head of a narrow mountain-gorge, with mountains towering over it.
apart from; not including
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
farmhousenounUS /ˈfɑːrmhaʊs/
house for a farmer and family
From this reading We had stopped at the gate of an old farmhouse, built with massive boulder stones, laid dry, and flushed in with mortar.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading It seemed to be four or five hundred years old, and perhaps belonged to some petty chief in the days of Owen Glendower.
having the pinkish flush of health
From this reading We had stopped at the gate of an old farmhouse, built with massive boulder stones, laid dry, and flushed in with mortar.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The house looked just like a low church-tower, and might have been taken for one at a distance if there had been any battlements.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading It seemed to be four or five hundred years old, and perhaps belonged to some petty chief in the days of Owen Glendower.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading We had stopped at the gate of an old farmhouse, built with massive boulder stones, laid dry, and flushed in with mortar.
gauntadjectiveUS /ɡɔːnt/
very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
Glendowernoun
Welsh chieftain who led a revolt against Henry IV's rule in Wales (1359-1416)
From this reading It seemed to be four or five hundred years old, and perhaps belonged to some petty chief in the days of Owen Glendower.
gruntedverbUS /ˈɡrʌntɪd/
past form of “grunt” — issue a grunting, low, animal-like noise
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had stopped at the gate of an old farmhouse, built with massive boulder stones, laid dry, and flushed in with mortar.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading As dreary a place as was ever seen; at the head of a narrow mountain-gorge, with mountains towering over it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
hogverbUS /hɑːɡ/
take greedily; take more than one's share
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The house looked just like a low church-tower, and might have been taken for one at a distance if there had been any battlements.
ten 10s
From this reading It seemed to be four or five hundred years old, and perhaps belonged to some petty chief in the days of Owen Glendower.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We had stopped at the gate of an old farmhouse, built with massive boulder stones, laid dry, and flushed in with mortar.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As dreary a place as was ever seen; at the head of a narrow mountain-gorge, with mountains towering over it.
and nothing more
From this reading The house looked just like a low church-tower, and might have been taken for one at a distance if there had been any battlements.
set down according to a plan
From this reading We had stopped at the gate of an old farmhouse, built with massive boulder stones, laid dry, and flushed in with mortar.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The house looked just like a low church-tower, and might have been taken for one at a distance if there had been any battlements.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The house looked just like a low church-tower, and might have been taken for one at a distance if there had been any battlements.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The house looked just like a low church-tower, and might have been taken for one at a distance if there had been any battlements.
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 There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
massiveadjectiveUS /ˈmæsɪv/
imposing in size or bulk or solidity
From this reading We had stopped at the gate of an old farmhouse, built with massive boulder stones, laid dry, and flushed in with mortar.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The house looked just like a low church-tower, and might have been taken for one at a distance if there had been any battlements.
mortarnounUS /ˈmɔːrtər/
a muzzle-loading high-angle gun with a short barrel that fires shells at high elevations for a short range
From this reading We had stopped at the gate of an old farmhouse, built with massive boulder stones, laid dry, and flushed in with mortar.
mountain-gorge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As dreary a place as was ever seen; at the head of a narrow mountain-gorge, with mountains towering over it.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading As dreary a place as was ever seen; at the head of a narrow mountain-gorge, with mountains towering over it.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading As dreary a place as was ever seen; at the head of a narrow mountain-gorge, with mountains towering over it.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We had stopped at the gate of an old farmhouse, built with massive boulder stones, laid dry, and flushed in with mortar.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading We had stopped at the gate of an old farmhouse, built with massive boulder stones, laid dry, and flushed in with mortar.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The house looked just like a low church-tower, and might have been taken for one at a distance if there had been any battlements.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It seemed to be four or five hundred years old, and perhaps belonged to some petty chief in the days of Owen Glendower.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading As dreary a place as was ever seen; at the head of a narrow mountain-gorge, with mountains towering over it.
OwennounUS /ˈoʊən/
Welsh industrialist and social reformer who founded cooperative communities (1771-1858)
From this reading It seemed to be four or five hundred years old, and perhaps belonged to some petty chief in the days of Owen Glendower.
by chance
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
pettyadjectiveUS /ˈpetiː/
inferior in rank or status
From this reading It seemed to be four or five hundred years old, and perhaps belonged to some petty chief in the days of Owen Glendower.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading As dreary a place as was ever seen; at the head of a narrow mountain-gorge, with mountains towering over it.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to be four or five hundred years old, and perhaps belonged to some petty chief in the days of Owen Glendower.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading As dreary a place as was ever seen; at the head of a narrow mountain-gorge, with mountains towering over it.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It seemed to be four or five hundred years old, and perhaps belonged to some petty chief in the days of Owen Glendower.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading We had stopped at the gate of an old farmhouse, built with massive boulder stones, laid dry, and flushed in with mortar.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading We had stopped at the gate of an old farmhouse, built with massive boulder stones, laid dry, and flushed in with mortar.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The house looked just like a low church-tower, and might have been taken for one at a distance if there had been any battlements.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We had stopped at the gate of an old farmhouse, built with massive boulder stones, laid dry, and flushed in with mortar.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed to be four or five hundred years old, and perhaps belonged to some petty chief in the days of Owen Glendower.
toweringadjectiveUS /ˈtaʊərɪŋ/
of imposing height; especially standing out above others
From this reading As dreary a place as was ever seen; at the head of a narrow mountain-gorge, with mountains towering over it.
trottedverbUS /ˈtrɑːtɪd/
inflected form of “trot” — run at a moderately swift pace
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
tusksnounUS /tʌsks/
plural of “tusk” — a hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As dreary a place as was ever seen; at the head of a narrow mountain-gorge, with mountains towering over it.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We had stopped at the gate of an old farmhouse, built with massive boulder stones, laid dry, and flushed in with mortar.
in the company of; together with
From this reading We had stopped at the gate of an old farmhouse, built with massive boulder stones, laid dry, and flushed in with mortar.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There was no sign of life about it, except that a gaunt hog trotted forth, and grunted at us, and showed his tusks, and would perhaps have charged us, if we had not been so many.
a late time of life
From this reading It seemed to be four or five hundred years old, and perhaps belonged to some petty chief in the days of Owen Glendower.
