used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The supposition became general that these unfortunates had been massacred by a tribe of hostile savages, known through Manteo as Winginas.
(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 Even the sanguine governor had by now given up all hope of finding any survivor of the fifteen men who had been left to hold the territory for England.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The colonists were much surprised, nevertheless, when, on a day early in August, their suspicions were seemingly verified in an unexpected way.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Even the sanguine governor had by now given up all hope of finding any survivor of the fifteen men who had been left to hold the territory for England.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The supposition became general that these unfortunates had been massacred by a tribe of hostile savages, known through Manteo as Winginas.
the month following July and preceding September
From this reading The colonists were much surprised, nevertheless, when, on a day early in August, their suspicions were seemingly verified in an unexpected way.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The supposition became general that these unfortunates had been massacred by a tribe of hostile savages, known through Manteo as Winginas.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Even the sanguine governor had by now given up all hope of finding any survivor of the fifteen men who had been left to hold the territory for England.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Even the sanguine governor had by now given up all hope of finding any survivor of the fifteen men who had been left to hold the territory for England.
colonistsnounUS /ˈkɑːlənɪsts/
plural of “colonist” — a person who settles in a new colony or moves into new country
From this reading The colonists were much surprised, nevertheless, when, on a day early in August, their suspicions were seemingly verified in an unexpected way.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The colonists were much surprised, nevertheless, when, on a day early in August, their suspicions were seemingly verified in an unexpected way.
dovenounUS /dʌv/
any of numerous small pigeons
From this reading “Now will I show myself To have more of the serpent than the dove; That is—more knave than fool.”
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading The colonists were much surprised, nevertheless, when, on a day early in August, their suspicions were seemingly verified in an unexpected way.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading Even the sanguine governor had by now given up all hope of finding any survivor of the fifteen men who had been left to hold the territory for England.
divisible by two
From this reading Even the sanguine governor had by now given up all hope of finding any survivor of the fifteen men who had been left to hold the territory for England.
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading Even the sanguine governor had by now given up all hope of finding any survivor of the fifteen men who had been left to hold the territory for England.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading Even the sanguine governor had by now given up all hope of finding any survivor of the fifteen men who had been left to hold the territory for England.
a person who lacks good judgment
From this reading “Now will I show myself To have more of the serpent than the dove; That is—more knave than fool.”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Even the sanguine governor had by now given up all hope of finding any survivor of the fifteen men who had been left to hold the territory for England.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading The supposition became general that these unfortunates had been massacred by a tribe of hostile savages, known through Manteo as Winginas.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Even the sanguine governor had by now given up all hope of finding any survivor of the fifteen men who had been left to hold the territory for England.
the head of a state government
From this reading Even the sanguine governor had by now given up all hope of finding any survivor of the fifteen men who had been left to hold the territory for England.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Even the sanguine governor had by now given up all hope of finding any survivor of the fifteen men who had been left to hold the territory for England.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Now will I show myself To have more of the serpent than the dove; That is—more knave than fool.”
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Even the sanguine governor had by now given up all hope of finding any survivor of the fifteen men who had been left to hold the territory for England.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Even the sanguine governor had by now given up all hope of finding any survivor of the fifteen men who had been left to hold the territory for England.
hostileadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːstəl/
characterized by enmity or ill will
From this reading The supposition became general that these unfortunates had been massacred by a tribe of hostile savages, known through Manteo as Winginas.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Now will I show myself To have more of the serpent than the dove; That is—more knave than fool.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading —MARLOWE, in _The Jew of Malta_.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Now will I show myself To have more of the serpent than the dove; That is—more knave than fool.”
JewnounUS /dʒuː/
a person belonging to the worldwide group claiming descent from Jacob (or converted to it) and connected by cultural or religious ties
From this reading —MARLOWE, in _The Jew of Malta_.
knavenounUS /neɪv/
a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel
From this reading “Now will I show myself To have more of the serpent than the dove; That is—more knave than fool.”
apprehended with certainty
From this reading The supposition became general that these unfortunates had been massacred by a tribe of hostile savages, known through Manteo as Winginas.
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 Even the sanguine governor had by now given up all hope of finding any survivor of the fifteen men who had been left to hold the territory for England.
MaltanounUS /ˈmɔːltə/
a republic on the island of Malta in the Mediterranean; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1964
From this reading —MARLOWE, in _The Jew of Malta_.
Manteo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The supposition became general that these unfortunates had been massacred by a tribe of hostile savages, known through Manteo as Winginas.
MARLOWEnounUS /ˈmɑːrloʊ/
English poet and playwright who introduced blank verse as a form of dramatic expression; was stabbed to death in a tavern brawl (1564-1593)
From this reading —MARLOWE, in _The Jew of Malta_.
massacredverbUS /ˈmæsəkərd/
past form of “massacre” — kill a large number of people indiscriminately
From this reading The supposition became general that these unfortunates had been massacred by a tribe of hostile savages, known through Manteo as Winginas.
the force of workers available
From this reading Even the sanguine governor had by now given up all hope of finding any survivor of the fifteen men who had been left to hold the territory for England.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading “Now will I show myself To have more of the serpent than the dove; That is—more knave than fool.”
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The colonists were much surprised, nevertheless, when, on a day early in August, their suspicions were seemingly verified in an unexpected way.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading “Now will I show myself To have more of the serpent than the dove; That is—more knave than fool.”
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading The colonists were much surprised, nevertheless, when, on a day early in August, their suspicions were seemingly verified in an unexpected way.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Now will I show myself To have more of the serpent than the dove; That is—more knave than fool.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Now will I show myself To have more of the serpent than the dove; That is—more knave than fool.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The colonists were much surprised, nevertheless, when, on a day early in August, their suspicions were seemingly verified in an unexpected way.
sanguineadjectiveUS /ˈsæŋɡwɪn/
confidently optimistic and cheerful
From this reading Even the sanguine governor had by now given up all hope of finding any survivor of the fifteen men who had been left to hold the territory for England.
savagesnounUS /ˈsævədʒəz/
plural of “savage” — a member of an uncivilized people
From this reading The supposition became general that these unfortunates had been massacred by a tribe of hostile savages, known through Manteo as Winginas.
seeminglyadverbUS /ˈsiːmɪŋli/
from appearances alone
From this reading The colonists were much surprised, nevertheless, when, on a day early in August, their suspicions were seemingly verified in an unexpected way.
serpentnounUS /ˈsɜːrpənt/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading “Now will I show myself To have more of the serpent than the dove; That is—more knave than fool.”
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading “Now will I show myself To have more of the serpent than the dove; That is—more knave than fool.”
suppositionnounUS /ˌsʌpəˈzɪʃən/
a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
From this reading The supposition became general that these unfortunates had been massacred by a tribe of hostile savages, known through Manteo as Winginas.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading The colonists were much surprised, nevertheless, when, on a day early in August, their suspicions were seemingly verified in an unexpected way.
survivornounUS /sərˈvaɪvər/
one who lives through affliction
From this reading Even the sanguine governor had by now given up all hope of finding any survivor of the fifteen men who had been left to hold the territory for England.
suspicionsnounUS /səˈspɪʃənz/
plural of “suspicion” — an impression that something might be the case
From this reading The colonists were much surprised, nevertheless, when, on a day early in August, their suspicions were seemingly verified in an unexpected way.
territorynounUS /ˈterɪtɔːri/
a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading Even the sanguine governor had by now given up all hope of finding any survivor of the fifteen men who had been left to hold the territory for England.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading “Now will I show myself To have more of the serpent than the dove; That is—more knave than fool.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Now will I show myself To have more of the serpent than the dove; That is—more knave than fool.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Now will I show myself To have more of the serpent than the dove; That is—more knave than fool.”
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The colonists were much surprised, nevertheless, when, on a day early in August, their suspicions were seemingly verified in an unexpected way.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The supposition became general that these unfortunates had been massacred by a tribe of hostile savages, known through Manteo as Winginas.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The supposition became general that these unfortunates had been massacred by a tribe of hostile savages, known through Manteo as Winginas.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Now will I show myself To have more of the serpent than the dove; That is—more knave than fool.”
tribenounUS /traɪb/
a social division of (usually preliterate) people
From this reading The supposition became general that these unfortunates had been massacred by a tribe of hostile savages, known through Manteo as Winginas.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading The colonists were much surprised, nevertheless, when, on a day early in August, their suspicions were seemingly verified in an unexpected way.
unfortunatesnounUS /ənˈfɔːrtʃənəts/
plural of “unfortunate” — a person who suffers misfortune
From this reading The supposition became general that these unfortunates had been massacred by a tribe of hostile savages, known through Manteo as Winginas.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Even the sanguine governor had by now given up all hope of finding any survivor of the fifteen men who had been left to hold the territory for England.
verifiedadjectiveUS /ˈverəfaɪd/
proved to be true
From this reading The colonists were much surprised, nevertheless, when, on a day early in August, their suspicions were seemingly verified in an unexpected way.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The colonists were much surprised, nevertheless, when, on a day early in August, their suspicions were seemingly verified in an unexpected way.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The colonists were much surprised, nevertheless, when, on a day early in August, their suspicions were seemingly verified in an unexpected way.
at the time that
From this reading The colonists were much surprised, nevertheless, when, on a day early in August, their suspicions were seemingly verified in an unexpected way.
which person or people
From this reading Even the sanguine governor had by now given up all hope of finding any survivor of the fifteen men who had been left to hold the territory for England.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Now will I show myself To have more of the serpent than the dove; That is—more knave than fool.”
Winginas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The supposition became general that these unfortunates had been massacred by a tribe of hostile savages, known through Manteo as Winginas.
