used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It is in the ground a species of dark polypus with a thousand antennæ, which grows below, equally with the city above.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to finish, any more than they could finish Paris.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading It is in the ground a species of dark polypus with a thousand antennæ, which grows below, equally with the city above.
(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 sewer, in fact, receives all the counterstrokes of the growth of Paris.
antennæ
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is in the ground a species of dark polypus with a thousand antennæ, which grows below, equally with the city above.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to finish, any more than they could finish Paris.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to finish, any more than they could finish Paris.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to finish, any more than they could finish Paris.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading It is in the ground a species of dark polypus with a thousand antennæ, which grows below, equally with the city above.
centuriesnounUS /ˈsentʃəriz/
plural of “century” — a period of 100 years
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to finish, any more than they could finish Paris.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading It is in the ground a species of dark polypus with a thousand antennæ, which grows below, equally with the city above.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to finish, any more than they could finish Paris.
counterstrokes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sewer, in fact, receives all the counterstrokes of the growth of Paris.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It is in the ground a species of dark polypus with a thousand antennæ, which grows below, equally with the city above.
DiggingnounUS /ˈdɪɡɪŋ/
the act of digging
From this reading Digging the sewerage of Paris was no small task.
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading It is in the ground a species of dark polypus with a thousand antennæ, which grows below, equally with the city above.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading The sewer, in fact, receives all the counterstrokes of the growth of Paris.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to finish, any more than they could finish Paris.
yet to be or coming
From this reading FUTURE PROGRESS.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading It is in the ground a species of dark polypus with a thousand antennæ, which grows below, equally with the city above.
growsverbUS /ɡroʊz/
third-person singular of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading It is in the ground a species of dark polypus with a thousand antennæ, which grows below, equally with the city above.
growthnounUS /ɡroʊθ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading The sewer, in fact, receives all the counterstrokes of the growth of Paris.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to finish, any more than they could finish Paris.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The sewer, in fact, receives all the counterstrokes of the growth of Paris.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is in the ground a species of dark polypus with a thousand antennæ, which grows below, equally with the city above.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to finish, any more than they could finish Paris.
immediately past
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to finish, any more than they could finish Paris.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to finish, any more than they could finish Paris.
not any; not one
From this reading Digging the sewerage of Paris was no small task.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Digging the sewerage of Paris was no small task.
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading Digging the sewerage of Paris was no small task.
polypusnoun
a small vascular growth on the surface of a mucous membrane
From this reading It is in the ground a species of dark polypus with a thousand antennæ, which grows below, equally with the city above.
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading FUTURE PROGRESS.
receivesverbUS /rəˈsiːvz/
third-person singular of “receive” — get something; come into possession of
From this reading The sewer, in fact, receives all the counterstrokes of the growth of Paris.
sewernounUS /ˈsuːər/
a waste pipe that carries away sewage or surface water
From this reading The sewer, in fact, receives all the counterstrokes of the growth of Paris.
seweragenounUS /ˈsuːərɪdʒ/
waste matter carried away in sewers or drains
From this reading Digging the sewerage of Paris was no small task.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Digging the sewerage of Paris was no small task.
speciesnounUS /ˈspiːʃiz/
(biology) taxonomic group whose members can interbreed
From this reading It is in the ground a species of dark polypus with a thousand antennæ, which grows below, equally with the city above.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading Digging the sewerage of Paris was no small task.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to finish, any more than they could finish Paris.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to finish, any more than they could finish Paris.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Digging the sewerage of Paris was no small task.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to finish, any more than they could finish Paris.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading It is in the ground a species of dark polypus with a thousand antennæ, which grows below, equally with the city above.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to finish, any more than they could finish Paris.
toiledverbUS /tɔɪld/
past form of “toil” — work hard
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to finish, any more than they could finish Paris.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Digging the sewerage of Paris was no small task.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It is in the ground a species of dark polypus with a thousand antennæ, which grows below, equally with the city above.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It is in the ground a species of dark polypus with a thousand antennæ, which grows below, equally with the city above.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The last ten centuries have toiled at it without being able to finish, any more than they could finish Paris.
