used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The history of Egypt extends through a period of about six thousand years.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
AfricanounUS /ˈæfrəkɑː/
the second largest continent; located to the south of Europe and bordered to the west by the South Atlantic and to the east by the Indian Ocean
From this reading Egypt embraces that part of Africa occupied by the valley of the River Nile.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading During this time great cities were built which flourished for hundreds of years.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Owing to wars and changes of government many of these cities were destroyed, and nothing of them now remains but massive and extensive ruins.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Egypt embraces that part of Africa occupied by the valley of the River Nile.
centuriesnounUS /ˈsentʃəriz/
plural of “century” — a period of 100 years
From this reading For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
plural of “change” — an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
From this reading Owing to wars and changes of government many of these cities were destroyed, and nothing of them now remains but massive and extensive ruins.
citiesnounUS /ˈsɪtiz/
plural of “city” — a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading During this time great cities were built which flourished for hundreds of years.
civilizationnounUS /ˌsɪvəlɪˈzeɪʃən/
a society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)
From this reading For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
spoiled or ruined or demolished
From this reading Owing to wars and changes of government many of these cities were destroyed, and nothing of them now remains but massive and extensive ruins.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During this time great cities were built which flourished for hundreds of years.
EgyptnounUS /ˈiːdʒəpt/
a republic in northeastern Africa known as the United Arab Republic until 1971; site of an ancient civilization that flourished from 2600 to 30 BC
From this reading Egypt embraces that part of Africa occupied by the valley of the River Nile.
embracesnounUS /emˈbreɪsɪz/
plural of “embrace” — the act of clasping another person in the arms (as in greeting or affection)
From this reading Egypt embraces that part of Africa occupied by the valley of the River Nile.
extendsverbUS /ɪkˈstendz/
third-person singular of “extend” — extend in scope or range or area
From this reading The history of Egypt extends through a period of about six thousand years.
extensiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstensɪv/
large in spatial extent or range or scope or quantity
From this reading Owing to wars and changes of government many of these cities were destroyed, and nothing of them now remains but massive and extensive ruins.
flourishedverbUS /ˈflɜːrɪʃt/
past form of “flourish” — grow vigorously
From this reading During this time great cities were built which flourished for hundreds of years.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading Owing to wars and changes of government many of these cities were destroyed, and nothing of them now remains but massive and extensive ruins.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading The history of Egypt extends through a period of about six thousand years.
plural of “hundred” — ten 10s
From this reading During this time great cities were built which flourished for hundreds of years.
a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
From this reading For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
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 For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
massiveadjectiveUS /ˈmæsɪv/
imposing in size or bulk or solidity
From this reading Owing to wars and changes of government many of these cities were destroyed, and nothing of them now remains but massive and extensive ruins.
NilenounUS /naɪl/
the world's longest river (4150 miles); flows northward through eastern Africa into the Mediterranean; the Nile River valley in Egypt was the site of the world's first great civilization
From this reading Egypt embraces that part of Africa occupied by the valley of the River Nile.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Owing to wars and changes of government many of these cities were destroyed, and nothing of them now remains but massive and extensive ruins.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Owing to wars and changes of government many of these cities were destroyed, and nothing of them now remains but massive and extensive ruins.
held or filled or in use
From this reading Egypt embraces that part of Africa occupied by the valley of the River Nile.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Egypt embraces that part of Africa occupied by the valley of the River Nile.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
OwingadjectiveUS /ˈoʊɪŋ/
owed as a debt
From this reading Owing to wars and changes of government many of these cities were destroyed, and nothing of them now remains but massive and extensive ruins.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Egypt embraces that part of Africa occupied by the valley of the River Nile.
an amount of time
From this reading The history of Egypt extends through a period of about six thousand years.
populatedadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːpjəleɪtɪd/
furnished with inhabitants
From this reading For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
any object that is left unused or still extant
From this reading Owing to wars and changes of government many of these cities were destroyed, and nothing of them now remains but massive and extensive ruins.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Egypt embraces that part of Africa occupied by the valley of the River Nile.
ruinsnounUS /ˈruːənz/
plural of “ruin” — an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading Owing to wars and changes of government many of these cities were destroyed, and nothing of them now remains but massive and extensive ruins.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading The history of Egypt extends through a period of about six thousand years.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Egypt embraces that part of Africa occupied by the valley of the River Nile.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Egypt embraces that part of Africa occupied by the valley of the River Nile.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Owing to wars and changes of government many of these cities were destroyed, and nothing of them now remains but massive and extensive ruins.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Owing to wars and changes of government many of these cities were destroyed, and nothing of them now remains but massive and extensive ruins.
thicklyadverbUS /ˈθɪkli/
spoken with poor articulation as if with a thick tongue
From this reading For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading During this time great cities were built which flourished for hundreds of years.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading The history of Egypt extends through a period of about six thousand years.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The history of Egypt extends through a period of about six thousand years.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Owing to wars and changes of government many of these cities were destroyed, and nothing of them now remains but massive and extensive ruins.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Egypt embraces that part of Africa occupied by the valley of the River Nile.
warsnounUS /wɔːrz/
plural of “war” — the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading Owing to wars and changes of government many of these cities were destroyed, and nothing of them now remains but massive and extensive ruins.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
the state of being rich and affluent; having a plentiful supply of material goods and money
From this reading For many centuries, it was a thickly populated country, and at one time possessed great influence and wealth, and had reached an advanced state of civilization.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading During this time great cities were built which flourished for hundreds of years.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading During this time great cities were built which flourished for hundreds of years.
a late time of life
From this reading The history of Egypt extends through a period of about six thousand years.
