used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Vesuvius erupts; a few human ants are scorched.
accomplishverbUS /əˈkɑːmplɪʃ/
put in effect
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An earthquake rocks half a continent; the other half stands firm.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A city burns, and a few ant-hills perish.
ant-hills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A city burns, and a few ant-hills perish.
antsnounUS /ænts/
plural of “ant” — social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers
From this reading Vesuvius erupts; a few human ants are scorched.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Vesuvius erupts; a few human ants are scorched.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
burnsnounUS /bɜːrnz/
United States comedian and film actor (1896-1996)
From this reading A city burns, and a few ant-hills perish.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
cataclysmnounUS /ˈkætəklɪsəm/
a sudden violent change in the earth's surface
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading A city burns, and a few ant-hills perish.
continentnounUS /ˈkɑːntənənt/
one of the large landmasses of the earth
From this reading An earthquake rocks half a continent; the other half stands firm.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
disturbverbUS /dɪˈstɜːrb/
move deeply
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
earthquakenounUS /ˈɜːrθkweɪk/
shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane or from volcanic activity
From this reading An earthquake rocks half a continent; the other half stands firm.
eruptsverbUS /ˌiːˈrʌpts/
third-person singular of “erupt” — start abruptly
From this reading Vesuvius erupts; a few human ants are scorched.
essentiallyadverbUS /eˈsenʃəli/
in essence; at bottom or by one's (or its) very nature
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
at any time
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Vesuvius erupts; a few human ants are scorched.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading An earthquake rocks half a continent; the other half stands firm.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading An earthquake rocks half a continent; the other half stands firm.
third-person singular of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Nothing much matters, and nothing happens.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Vesuvius erupts; a few human ants are scorched.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
inauguratedverbUS /ɪˈnɔːɡəreɪtɪd/
past form of “inaugurate” — commence officially
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
an opinion formed by judging something
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
KELLYnounUS /ˈkeli/
United States circus clown (1898-1979)
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Nothing much matters, and nothing happens.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Nothing much matters, and nothing happens.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nothing much matters, and nothing happens.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading An earthquake rocks half a continent; the other half stands firm.
perishverbUS /ˈperɪʃ/
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading A city burns, and a few ant-hills perish.
phenomenanounUS /fəˈnɑːmənə/
plural of “phenomenon” — any state or process known through the senses rather than by intuition or reasoning
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
placidadjectiveUS /ˈplæsəd/
(of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
probableadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːbəbəl/
likely but not certain to be or become true or real
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading An earthquake rocks half a continent; the other half stands firm.
an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
only a very short time before
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
scorchedadjectiveUS /skɔːrtʃt/
Burned by flames or heat; blackened by intense magical or physical fire.
From this reading Vesuvius erupts; a few human ants are scorched.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
and nothing more
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
plural of “stand” — a support or foundation
From this reading An earthquake rocks half a continent; the other half stands firm.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
except if; if not
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
VesuviusnounUS /vəˈsuːviəs/
a volcano in southwestern Italy on the Mediterranean coast; a Plinian eruption in 79 AD buried Pompeii and killed Pliny the Elder; last erupted in 1944
From this reading Vesuvius erupts; a few human ants are scorched.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading CHANGE IN KELLY ROW I Unless the Day of Judgment shall, in its extraordinary phenomena, accomplish that result, it is scarcely to be held probable that any cataclysm inaugurated by God or man ever will essentially disturb the placid business of simply being alive.
