used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
ambitionsnounUS /æmˈbɪʃənz/
plural of “ambition” — a cherished desire
From this reading The fact that the nearest railroad point was at Sheridan, forty miles away, did away with any ambitions that Crawling Water might have had to be more than a neighborhood center.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Its original settlers had been men of large ideas, and having had plenty of space at their disposal, they had used it lavishly.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The fact that the nearest railroad point was at Sheridan, forty miles away, did away with any ambitions that Crawling Water might have had to be more than a neighborhood center.
areanounUS /ˈeriə/
a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Its original settlers had been men of large ideas, and having had plenty of space at their disposal, they had used it lavishly.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The fact that the nearest railroad point was at Sheridan, forty miles away, did away with any ambitions that Crawling Water might have had to be more than a neighborhood center.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The fact that the nearest railroad point was at Sheridan, forty miles away, did away with any ambitions that Crawling Water might have had to be more than a neighborhood center.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Crawling Water was not fated to become a big city.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Its original settlers had been men of large ideas, and having had plenty of space at their disposal, they had used it lavishly.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Crawling Water was not fated to become a big city.
borderedadjectiveUS /ˈbɔːrdərd/
having a border especially of a specified kind; sometimes used as a combining term
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
buildingsnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋz/
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading The fact that the nearest railroad point was at Sheridan, forty miles away, did away with any ambitions that Crawling Water might have had to be more than a neighborhood center.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
competeverbUS /kəmˈpiːt/
compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
CrawlingnounUS /ˈkrɔːlɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
derivedadjectiveUS /dərˈaɪvd/
formed or developed from something else; not original
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The fact that the nearest railroad point was at Sheridan, forty miles away, did away with any ambitions that Crawling Water might have had to be more than a neighborhood center.
disposalnounUS /dɪˈspoʊzəl/
the power to use something or someone
From this reading Its original settlers had been men of large ideas, and having had plenty of space at their disposal, they had used it lavishly.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading The fact that the nearest railroad point was at Sheridan, forty miles away, did away with any ambitions that Crawling Water might have had to be more than a neighborhood center.
fatedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪtɪd/
(usually followed by “to”) determined by tragic fate
From this reading Crawling Water was not fated to become a big city.
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading The fact that the nearest railroad point was at Sheridan, forty miles away, did away with any ambitions that Crawling Water might have had to be more than a neighborhood center.
enclose in or as if in a frame
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Its original settlers had been men of large ideas, and having had plenty of space at their disposal, they had used it lavishly.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The fact that the nearest railroad point was at Sheridan, forty miles away, did away with any ambitions that Crawling Water might have had to be more than a neighborhood center.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Its original settlers had been men of large ideas, and having had plenty of space at their disposal, they had used it lavishly.
hornnounUS /hɔːrn/
a noisemaker (as at parties or games) that makes a loud noise when you blow through it
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Its original settlers had been men of large ideas, and having had plenty of space at their disposal, they had used it lavishly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
irregularadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈreɡjələr/
contrary to rule or accepted order or general practice
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Its original settlers had been men of large ideas, and having had plenty of space at their disposal, they had used it lavishly.
lavishlyadverbUS /ˈlævɪʃli/
in a wasteful manner
From this reading Its original settlers had been men of large ideas, and having had plenty of space at their disposal, they had used it lavishly.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
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 The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
the force of workers available
From this reading Its original settlers had been men of large ideas, and having had plenty of space at their disposal, they had used it lavishly.
metropolisnounUS /məˈtrɑːpələs/
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The fact that the nearest railroad point was at Sheridan, forty miles away, did away with any ambitions that Crawling Water might have had to be more than a neighborhood center.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The fact that the nearest railroad point was at Sheridan, forty miles away, did away with any ambitions that Crawling Water might have had to be more than a neighborhood center.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The fact that the nearest railroad point was at Sheridan, forty miles away, did away with any ambitions that Crawling Water might have had to be more than a neighborhood center.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading The fact that the nearest railroad point was at Sheridan, forty miles away, did away with any ambitions that Crawling Water might have had to be more than a neighborhood center.
neighborhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading The fact that the nearest railroad point was at Sheridan, forty miles away, did away with any ambitions that Crawling Water might have had to be more than a neighborhood center.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Crawling Water was not fated to become a big city.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed
From this reading Its original settlers had been men of large ideas, and having had plenty of space at their disposal, they had used it lavishly.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
a full supply
From this reading Its original settlers had been men of large ideas, and having had plenty of space at their disposal, they had used it lavishly.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading The fact that the nearest railroad point was at Sheridan, forty miles away, did away with any ambitions that Crawling Water might have had to be more than a neighborhood center.
railroadnounUS /ˈreɪlroʊd/
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading The fact that the nearest railroad point was at Sheridan, forty miles away, did away with any ambitions that Crawling Water might have had to be more than a neighborhood center.
resemblancenounUS /rɪˈzembləns/
similarity in appearance or external or superficial details
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
settlersnounUS /ˈsetlərz/
plural of “settler” — a person who settles in a new colony or moves into new country
From this reading Its original settlers had been men of large ideas, and having had plenty of space at their disposal, they had used it lavishly.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
SheridannounUS /ˈʃerɪdən/
Irish playwright remembered for his satirical comedies of manners (1751-1816)
From this reading The fact that the nearest railroad point was at Sheridan, forty miles away, did away with any ambitions that Crawling Water might have had to be more than a neighborhood center.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Its original settlers had been men of large ideas, and having had plenty of space at their disposal, they had used it lavishly.
sprawledverbUS /sprɔːld/
past form of “sprawl” — sit or lie with one's limbs spread out
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The fact that the nearest railroad point was at Sheridan, forty miles away, did away with any ambitions that Crawling Water might have had to be more than a neighborhood center.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The fact that the nearest railroad point was at Sheridan, forty miles away, did away with any ambitions that Crawling Water might have had to be more than a neighborhood center.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Its original settlers had been men of large ideas, and having had plenty of space at their disposal, they had used it lavishly.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Its original settlers had been men of large ideas, and having had plenty of space at their disposal, they had used it lavishly.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Crawling Water was not fated to become a big city.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading Its original settlers had been men of large ideas, and having had plenty of space at their disposal, they had used it lavishly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Crawling Water was not fated to become a big city.
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 THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
weather-beatenadjective
tanned and coarsened from being outdoors
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE GATHERING STORM On the north bank of the river, from which it derived its name, the town of Crawling Water lay sprawled out in the shape of an irregular horn.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The streets, bordered by dusty, weather-beaten, frame buildings, were as wide as those of a large city; indeed, in area, the town could compete with many a metropolis; but there the resemblance ended.
