used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In former centuries Liangchowfu was the border town, a citadel of defense against the outer barbarians of the northern steppe and Central Asia.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading In exactly a month after leaving Honanfu, as Gray had promised, the wagons bearing the two Americans passed through the town gate.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading In former centuries Liangchowfu was the border town, a citadel of defense against the outer barbarians of the northern steppe and Central Asia.
AmericansnounUS /əˈmerəkənz/
plural of “american” — a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading In exactly a month after leaving Honanfu, as Gray had promised, the wagons bearing the two Americans passed through the town gate.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In former centuries Liangchowfu was the border town, a citadel of defense against the outer barbarians of the northern steppe and Central Asia.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Beyond Liangchowfu are the highlands of Central Asia.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In exactly a month after leaving Honanfu, as Gray had promised, the wagons bearing the two Americans passed through the town gate.
AsianounUS /ˈeɪʒə/
the largest continent with 60% of the earth's population; it is joined to Europe on the west to form Eurasia; it is the site of some of the world's earliest civilizations
From this reading In former centuries Liangchowfu was the border town, a citadel of defense against the outer barbarians of the northern steppe and Central Asia.
athwartadverbUS /əˈθwɔːrt/
at right angles to the center line of a ship
From this reading It is a walled city, standing squarely athwart the highway from China proper to the interior.
barbariansnounUS /bɑːrˈberiənz/
plural of “barbarian” — a member of an uncivilized people
From this reading In former centuries Liangchowfu was the border town, a citadel of defense against the outer barbarians of the northern steppe and Central Asia.
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading In exactly a month after leaving Honanfu, as Gray had promised, the wagons bearing the two Americans passed through the town gate.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Beyond Liangchowfu are the highlands of Central Asia.
bordernounUS /ˈbɔːrdər/
a line that indicates a boundary
From this reading In former centuries Liangchowfu was the border town, a citadel of defense against the outer barbarians of the northern steppe and Central Asia.
CentraladjectiveUS /ˈsentrəl/
serving as an essential component
From this reading In former centuries Liangchowfu was the border town, a citadel of defense against the outer barbarians of the northern steppe and Central Asia.
centuriesnounUS /ˈsentʃəriz/
plural of “century” — a period of 100 years
From this reading In former centuries Liangchowfu was the border town, a citadel of defense against the outer barbarians of the northern steppe and Central Asia.
ChinanounUS /ˈtʃaɪnə/
a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world
From this reading It is a walled city, standing squarely athwart the highway from China proper to the interior.
citadelnounUS /ˈsɪt.ə.del/
A fortress protecting a city, metaphorically representing the invincible inner sanctuary of the rational mind.
From this reading In former centuries Liangchowfu was the border town, a citadel of defense against the outer barbarians of the northern steppe and Central Asia.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading It is a walled city, standing squarely athwart the highway from China proper to the interior.
defensenounUS /dɪˈfens/
(military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies
From this reading In former centuries Liangchowfu was the border town, a citadel of defense against the outer barbarians of the northern steppe and Central Asia.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading In exactly a month after leaving Honanfu, as Gray had promised, the wagons bearing the two Americans passed through the town gate.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading In former centuries Liangchowfu was the border town, a citadel of defense against the outer barbarians of the northern steppe and Central Asia.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading MIRAI KHAN Near Kia-yu-kwan, the western gate of the Great Wall, the twin pagodas of Liangchowfu rise from the plain.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading MIRAI KHAN Near Kia-yu-kwan, the western gate of the Great Wall, the twin pagodas of Liangchowfu rise from the plain.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading In exactly a month after leaving Honanfu, as Gray had promised, the wagons bearing the two Americans passed through the town gate.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading MIRAI KHAN Near Kia-yu-kwan, the western gate of the Great Wall, the twin pagodas of Liangchowfu rise from the plain.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In exactly a month after leaving Honanfu, as Gray had promised, the wagons bearing the two Americans passed through the town gate.
highlandsnounUS /ˈhaɪləndz/
a mountainous region of northern Scotland famous for its rugged beauty; known for the style of dress (the kilt and tartan) and the clan system (now in disuse)
From this reading Beyond Liangchowfu are the highlands of Central Asia.
highwaynounUS /ˈhaɪweɪ/
a major road for any form of motor transport
From this reading It is a walled city, standing squarely athwart the highway from China proper to the interior.
Honanfu
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In exactly a month after leaving Honanfu, as Gray had promised, the wagons bearing the two Americans passed through the town gate.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In former centuries Liangchowfu was the border town, a citadel of defense against the outer barbarians of the northern steppe and Central Asia.
interioradjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɪriər/
situated within or suitable for inside a building
From this reading It is a walled city, standing squarely athwart the highway from China proper to the interior.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is a walled city, standing squarely athwart the highway from China proper to the interior.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is a walled city, standing squarely athwart the highway from China proper to the interior.
KHANnounUS /kɑːn/
a title given to rulers or other important people in Asian countries
From this reading MIRAI KHAN Near Kia-yu-kwan, the western gate of the Great Wall, the twin pagodas of Liangchowfu rise from the plain.
Kia-yu-kwan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MIRAI KHAN Near Kia-yu-kwan, the western gate of the Great Wall, the twin pagodas of Liangchowfu rise from the plain.
the act of departing
From this reading In exactly a month after leaving Honanfu, as Gray had promised, the wagons bearing the two Americans passed through the town gate.
Liangchowfu
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MIRAI KHAN Near Kia-yu-kwan, the western gate of the Great Wall, the twin pagodas of Liangchowfu rise from the plain.
MIRAI
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MIRAI KHAN Near Kia-yu-kwan, the western gate of the Great Wall, the twin pagodas of Liangchowfu rise from the plain.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading In exactly a month after leaving Honanfu, as Gray had promised, the wagons bearing the two Americans passed through the town gate.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading MIRAI KHAN Near Kia-yu-kwan, the western gate of the Great Wall, the twin pagodas of Liangchowfu rise from the plain.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading In former centuries Liangchowfu was the border town, a citadel of defense against the outer barbarians of the northern steppe and Central Asia.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading MIRAI KHAN Near Kia-yu-kwan, the western gate of the Great Wall, the twin pagodas of Liangchowfu rise from the plain.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading In former centuries Liangchowfu was the border town, a citadel of defense against the outer barbarians of the northern steppe and Central Asia.
pagodasnounUS /pəˈɡoʊdəz/
plural of “pagoda” — an Asian temple; usually a pyramidal tower with an upward curving roof
From this reading MIRAI KHAN Near Kia-yu-kwan, the western gate of the Great Wall, the twin pagodas of Liangchowfu rise from the plain.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading In exactly a month after leaving Honanfu, as Gray had promised, the wagons bearing the two Americans passed through the town gate.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading MIRAI KHAN Near Kia-yu-kwan, the western gate of the Great Wall, the twin pagodas of Liangchowfu rise from the plain.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading In exactly a month after leaving Honanfu, as Gray had promised, the wagons bearing the two Americans passed through the town gate.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading It is a walled city, standing squarely athwart the highway from China proper to the interior.
move upward
From this reading MIRAI KHAN Near Kia-yu-kwan, the western gate of the Great Wall, the twin pagodas of Liangchowfu rise from the plain.
squarelyadverbUS /ˈskwerli/
directly and without evasion; not roundabout
From this reading It is a walled city, standing squarely athwart the highway from China proper to the interior.
having a supporting base
From this reading It is a walled city, standing squarely athwart the highway from China proper to the interior.
steppenounUS /step/
extensive plain without trees (associated with eastern Russia and Siberia)
From this reading In former centuries Liangchowfu was the border town, a citadel of defense against the outer barbarians of the northern steppe and Central Asia.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MIRAI KHAN Near Kia-yu-kwan, the western gate of the Great Wall, the twin pagodas of Liangchowfu rise from the plain.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading In exactly a month after leaving Honanfu, as Gray had promised, the wagons bearing the two Americans passed through the town gate.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is a walled city, standing squarely athwart the highway from China proper to the interior.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading In former centuries Liangchowfu was the border town, a citadel of defense against the outer barbarians of the northern steppe and Central Asia.
twinnounUS /twɪn/
either of two offspring born at the same time from the same pregnancy
From this reading MIRAI KHAN Near Kia-yu-kwan, the western gate of the Great Wall, the twin pagodas of Liangchowfu rise from the plain.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In exactly a month after leaving Honanfu, as Gray had promised, the wagons bearing the two Americans passed through the town gate.
wagonsnounUS /ˈwæɡənz/
plural of “wagon” — any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor
From this reading In exactly a month after leaving Honanfu, as Gray had promised, the wagons bearing the two Americans passed through the town gate.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading MIRAI KHAN Near Kia-yu-kwan, the western gate of the Great Wall, the twin pagodas of Liangchowfu rise from the plain.
walledverbUS /wɔːld/
past form of “wall” — surround with a wall in order to fortify
From this reading It is a walled city, standing squarely athwart the highway from China proper to the interior.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In former centuries Liangchowfu was the border town, a citadel of defense against the outer barbarians of the northern steppe and Central Asia.
relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts
From this reading MIRAI KHAN Near Kia-yu-kwan, the western gate of the Great Wall, the twin pagodas of Liangchowfu rise from the plain.
