used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A smoke pall hung over everything.
acresnounUS /ˈeɪkərz/
extensive landed property (especially in the country) retained by the owner for his own use
From this reading The acres of tumbled masonry which once reared aloft in proud splendor--the Woolworth Building--lay still smoking.
aloftadverbUS /əˈlɔːft/
at or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship
From this reading The acres of tumbled masonry which once reared aloft in proud splendor--the Woolworth Building--lay still smoking.
areasnounUS /ˈeriəz/
plural of “area” — a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
From this reading Lower Manhattan--its pile of monuments to the engineering skill of man--was interspersed with areas of ruin.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE STRICKEN CITY The little glowing bricks had been spread in scores of places.
bricksnounUS /brɪks/
plural of “brick” — rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material
From this reading THE STRICKEN CITY The little glowing bricks had been spread in scores of places.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading The acres of tumbled masonry which once reared aloft in proud splendor--the Woolworth Building--lay still smoking.
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading Other buildings were down.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading THE STRICKEN CITY The little glowing bricks had been spread in scores of places.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Other buildings were down.
engineeringnounUS /ˈendʒəˈnɪrɪŋ/
the practical application of technical and scientific knowledge to commerce or industry
From this reading Lower Manhattan--its pile of monuments to the engineering skill of man--was interspersed with areas of ruin.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading A smoke pall hung over everything.
glowingadjectiveUS /ˈɡloʊɪŋ/
highly enthusiastic
From this reading THE STRICKEN CITY The little glowing bricks had been spread in scores of places.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE STRICKEN CITY The little glowing bricks had been spread in scores of places.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading A smoke pall hung over everything.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE STRICKEN CITY The little glowing bricks had been spread in scores of places.
interspersedverbUS /ˌɪntərˈspɜːrst/
past form of “intersperse” — place at intervals in or among
From this reading Lower Manhattan--its pile of monuments to the engineering skill of man--was interspersed with areas of ruin.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Lower Manhattan--its pile of monuments to the engineering skill of man--was interspersed with areas of ruin.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The acres of tumbled masonry which once reared aloft in proud splendor--the Woolworth Building--lay still smoking.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE STRICKEN CITY The little glowing bricks had been spread in scores of places.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading Lower Manhattan--its pile of monuments to the engineering skill of man--was interspersed with areas of ruin.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Lower Manhattan--its pile of monuments to the engineering skill of man--was interspersed with areas of ruin.
ManhattannounUS /mænˈhætən/
one of the five boroughs of New York City
From this reading Lower Manhattan--its pile of monuments to the engineering skill of man--was interspersed with areas of ruin.
masonrynounUS /ˈmeɪsənri/
structure built of stone or brick by a mason
From this reading The acres of tumbled masonry which once reared aloft in proud splendor--the Woolworth Building--lay still smoking.
monumentsnounUS /ˈmɑːnjəmənts/
plural of “monument” — a structure erected to commemorate persons or events
From this reading Lower Manhattan--its pile of monuments to the engineering skill of man--was interspersed with areas of ruin.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE STRICKEN CITY The little glowing bricks had been spread in scores of places.
on one occasion
From this reading The acres of tumbled masonry which once reared aloft in proud splendor--the Woolworth Building--lay still smoking.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Other buildings were down.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A smoke pall hung over everything.
pallverbUS /pɑːl/
become less interesting or attractive
From this reading A smoke pall hung over everything.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading Lower Manhattan--its pile of monuments to the engineering skill of man--was interspersed with areas of ruin.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading THE STRICKEN CITY The little glowing bricks had been spread in scores of places.
feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading The acres of tumbled masonry which once reared aloft in proud splendor--the Woolworth Building--lay still smoking.
rearedverbUS /rɪrd/
past form of “rear” — stand up on the hind legs, of quadrupeds
From this reading The acres of tumbled masonry which once reared aloft in proud splendor--the Woolworth Building--lay still smoking.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading Lower Manhattan--its pile of monuments to the engineering skill of man--was interspersed with areas of ruin.
scoresnounUS /skɔːrz/
a large number or amount
From this reading THE STRICKEN CITY The little glowing bricks had been spread in scores of places.
an ability that has been acquired by training
From this reading Lower Manhattan--its pile of monuments to the engineering skill of man--was interspersed with areas of ruin.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading A smoke pall hung over everything.
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading The acres of tumbled masonry which once reared aloft in proud splendor--the Woolworth Building--lay still smoking.
splendornounUS /ˈsplen.dər/
Magnificent and splendid appearance; grandeur and brilliance.
From this reading The acres of tumbled masonry which once reared aloft in proud splendor--the Woolworth Building--lay still smoking.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading THE STRICKEN CITY The little glowing bricks had been spread in scores of places.
not in physical motion
From this reading The acres of tumbled masonry which once reared aloft in proud splendor--the Woolworth Building--lay still smoking.
STRICKENadjectiveUS /ˈstrɪkən/
grievously affected especially by disease
From this reading THE STRICKEN CITY The little glowing bricks had been spread in scores of places.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STRICKEN CITY The little glowing bricks had been spread in scores of places.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Lower Manhattan--its pile of monuments to the engineering skill of man--was interspersed with areas of ruin.
tumbledverbUS /ˈtʌmbəld/
past form of “tumble” — fall down, as if collapsing
From this reading The acres of tumbled masonry which once reared aloft in proud splendor--the Woolworth Building--lay still smoking.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lower Manhattan--its pile of monuments to the engineering skill of man--was interspersed with areas of ruin.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Other buildings were down.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The acres of tumbled masonry which once reared aloft in proud splendor--the Woolworth Building--lay still smoking.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Lower Manhattan--its pile of monuments to the engineering skill of man--was interspersed with areas of ruin.
WoolworthnounUS /ˈwʊlwɜːrθ/
United States businessman who opened a shop in 1879 selling low-priced goods and built it into a national chain of stores (1852-1919)
From this reading The acres of tumbled masonry which once reared aloft in proud splendor--the Woolworth Building--lay still smoking.
