used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
advancingadjectiveUS /ədˈvænsɪŋ/
moving forward
From this reading He slackened his pace so as not to overtake this person, and never noticed that besides that person walking in front of him was another advancing to meet him.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading He slackened his pace so as not to overtake this person, and never noticed that besides that person walking in front of him was another advancing to meet him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He saw it all without seeing it, occupied as he was with his own thoughts.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last he could distinguish one from the other.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
in addition to; as well as
From this reading He slackened his pace so as not to overtake this person, and never noticed that besides that person walking in front of him was another advancing to meet him.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading At last he could distinguish one from the other.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Not a soul on the road--yes, far off in the distance was a solitary individual going toward the town.
distinguishverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/
mark as different
From this reading At last he could distinguish one from the other.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
factoriesnounUS /ˈfæktəriz/
plural of “factory” — a plant consisting of one or more buildings with facilities for manufacturing
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Not a soul on the road--yes, far off in the distance was a solitary individual going toward the town.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At last he could distinguish one from the other.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading He slackened his pace so as not to overtake this person, and never noticed that besides that person walking in front of him was another advancing to meet him.
the act of departing
From this reading Not a soul on the road--yes, far off in the distance was a solitary individual going toward the town.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He saw it all without seeing it, occupied as he was with his own thoughts.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He slackened his pace so as not to overtake this person, and never noticed that besides that person walking in front of him was another advancing to meet him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He saw it all without seeing it, occupied as he was with his own thoughts.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Not a soul on the road--yes, far off in the distance was a solitary individual going toward the town.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Not a soul on the road--yes, far off in the distance was a solitary individual going toward the town.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He saw it all without seeing it, occupied as he was with his own thoughts.
immediately past
From this reading At last he could distinguish one from the other.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
come together
From this reading He slackened his pace so as not to overtake this person, and never noticed that besides that person walking in front of him was another advancing to meet him.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He slackened his pace so as not to overtake this person, and never noticed that besides that person walking in front of him was another advancing to meet him.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
not any; not one
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a soul on the road--yes, far off in the distance was a solitary individual going toward the town.
being perceived or observed
From this reading He slackened his pace so as not to overtake this person, and never noticed that besides that person walking in front of him was another advancing to meet him.
held or filled or in use
From this reading He saw it all without seeing it, occupied as he was with his own thoughts.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Not a soul on the road--yes, far off in the distance was a solitary individual going toward the town.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At last he could distinguish one from the other.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading At last he could distinguish one from the other.
overtakeverbUS /ˈoʊvərteɪk/
catch up with and possibly overtake
From this reading He slackened his pace so as not to overtake this person, and never noticed that besides that person walking in front of him was another advancing to meet him.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He saw it all without seeing it, occupied as he was with his own thoughts.
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading He slackened his pace so as not to overtake this person, and never noticed that besides that person walking in front of him was another advancing to meet him.
a human being
From this reading He slackened his pace so as not to overtake this person, and never noticed that besides that person walking in front of him was another advancing to meet him.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
roadsidenounUS /ˈroʊdsaɪd/
edge of a way or road or path
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
cut with a saw
From this reading He saw it all without seeing it, occupied as he was with his own thoughts.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading He saw it all without seeing it, occupied as he was with his own thoughts.
shabby-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
slackenedverbUS /ˈslækənd/
past form of “slacken” — become slow or slower
From this reading He slackened his pace so as not to overtake this person, and never noticed that besides that person walking in front of him was another advancing to meet him.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He slackened his pace so as not to overtake this person, and never noticed that besides that person walking in front of him was another advancing to meet him.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading Not a soul on the road--yes, far off in the distance was a solitary individual going toward the town.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading Not a soul on the road--yes, far off in the distance was a solitary individual going toward the town.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He slackened his pace so as not to overtake this person, and never noticed that besides that person walking in front of him was another advancing to meet him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He slackened his pace so as not to overtake this person, and never noticed that besides that person walking in front of him was another advancing to meet him.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He saw it all without seeing it, occupied as he was with his own thoughts.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He slackened his pace so as not to overtake this person, and never noticed that besides that person walking in front of him was another advancing to meet him.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Not a soul on the road--yes, far off in the distance was a solitary individual going toward the town.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Not a soul on the road--yes, far off in the distance was a solitary individual going toward the town.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
villasnounUS /ˈvɪləz/
plural of “villa” — Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading He slackened his pace so as not to overtake this person, and never noticed that besides that person walking in front of him was another advancing to meet him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
windingadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪndɪŋ/
marked by repeated turns and bends
From this reading The late sunset left no red sky behind, the night was dull and gray, a deserted road winding down hill; by the roadside were some small factories, the houses being up on the hill, poor places all of them, and a few shabby-looking summer villas here and there, low trees, and a few bushes spread about.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He saw it all without seeing it, occupied as he was with his own thoughts.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He saw it all without seeing it, occupied as he was with his own thoughts.
an affirmative
From this reading Not a soul on the road--yes, far off in the distance was a solitary individual going toward the town.
