used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
acrenounUS /ˈeɪkər/
a unit of area (4840 square yards) used in English-speaking countries
From this reading The house and little attempted garden, together with the stables and appurtenances, may have occupied half an acre.
(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 All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The house and little attempted garden, together with the stables and appurtenances, may have occupied half an acre.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading It was marvellous that any man should have contemplated the building of such a mansion in a place so little attractive, with so many houses within view.
appurtenances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house and little attempted garden, together with the stables and appurtenances, may have occupied half an acre.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
assertionnounUS /əˈsɜːrʃən/
a declaration that is made emphatically (as if no supporting evidence were necessary)
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
tried unsuccessfully
From this reading The house and little attempted garden, together with the stables and appurtenances, may have occupied half an acre.
attractiveadjectiveUS /əˈtræktɪv/
pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm
From this reading It was marvellous that any man should have contemplated the building of such a mansion in a place so little attractive, with so many houses within view.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There was not a blade of grass to be seen.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
bladenounUS /bleɪd/
especially a leaf of grass or the broad portion of a leaf as distinct from the petiole
From this reading There was not a blade of grass to be seen.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading It was marvellous that any man should have contemplated the building of such a mansion in a place so little attractive, with so many houses within view.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
contemplatedverbUS /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪtɪd/
past form of “contemplate” — look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
From this reading It was marvellous that any man should have contemplated the building of such a mansion in a place so little attractive, with so many houses within view.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
Crinkett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
(Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
draggingadjectiveUS /ˈdræɡɪŋ/
marked by a painfully slow and effortful manner
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading The house and little attempted garden, together with the stables and appurtenances, may have occupied half an acre.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading There was not a blade of grass to be seen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading The house and little attempted garden, together with the stables and appurtenances, may have occupied half an acre.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was marvellous that any man should have contemplated the building of such a mansion in a place so little attractive, with so many houses within view.
grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It was marvellous that any man should have contemplated the building of such a mansion in a place so little attractive, with so many houses within view.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was marvellous that any man should have contemplated the building of such a mansion in a place so little attractive, with so many houses within view.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was marvellous that any man should have contemplated the building of such a mansion in a place so little attractive, with so many houses within view.
and nothing more
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
justifyverbUS /ˈdʒʌstəfaɪ/
show to be right by providing justification or proof
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was marvellous that any man should have contemplated the building of such a mansion in a place so little attractive, with so many houses within view.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
engage in
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It was marvellous that any man should have contemplated the building of such a mansion in a place so little attractive, with so many houses within view.
mansionnounUS /ˈmænʃən/
(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
From this reading It was marvellous that any man should have contemplated the building of such a mansion in a place so little attractive, with so many houses within view.
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 It was marvellous that any man should have contemplated the building of such a mansion in a place so little attractive, with so many houses within view.
marvellousadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːrvələs/
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading It was marvellous that any man should have contemplated the building of such a mansion in a place so little attractive, with so many houses within view.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The house and little attempted garden, together with the stables and appurtenances, may have occupied half an acre.
metalsnounUS /ˈmetəlz/
plural of “metal” — any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
miningnounUS /ˈmaɪnɪŋ/
the act of extracting ores or coal etc from the earth
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was not a blade of grass to be seen.
held or filled or in use
From this reading The house and little attempted garden, together with the stables and appurtenances, may have occupied half an acre.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was marvellous that any man should have contemplated the building of such a mansion in a place so little attractive, with so many houses within view.
operationsnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃənz/
financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It was marvellous that any man should have contemplated the building of such a mansion in a place so little attractive, with so many houses within view.
Polyeuka
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
rakeverbUS /reɪk/
move through with or as if with a rake
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
possessing material wealth
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
cut with a saw
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading There was not a blade of grass to be seen.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It was marvellous that any man should have contemplated the building of such a mansion in a place so little attractive, with so many houses within view.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was marvellous that any man should have contemplated the building of such a mansion in a place so little attractive, with so many houses within view.
stablesnounUS /ˈsteɪbəlz/
plural of “stable” — a farm building for housing horses or other livestock
From this reading The house and little attempted garden, together with the stables and appurtenances, may have occupied half an acre.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It was marvellous that any man should have contemplated the building of such a mansion in a place so little attractive, with so many houses within view.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
swellverbUS /swel/
increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was not a blade of grass to be seen.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading The house and little attempted garden, together with the stables and appurtenances, may have occupied half an acre.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading It was marvellous that any man should have contemplated the building of such a mansion in a place so little attractive, with so many houses within view.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All around it were those hideous signs of mining operations which make a country rich in metals look as though the devil had walked over it, dragging behind him an enormous rake.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Polyeuka Hall The house which they saw certainly surprised them much, and seemed to justify the assertion just before made to them that Mr. Crinkett was a swell.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was marvellous that any man should have contemplated the building of such a mansion in a place so little attractive, with so many houses within view.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading It was marvellous that any man should have contemplated the building of such a mansion in a place so little attractive, with so many houses within view.
