Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Then there had still been left great open spaces where there should have been none; now it was a city once more; and even the Cathedral shewed its walls and a few roofs above the houses.

later than; following

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

anew

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

(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 It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The steeples too of Sir Christopher Wren's new churches pricked everywhere; though I saw later that there was yet much building to be done, both in these and in many of the greater houses.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Then there had still been left great open spaces where there should have been none; now it was a city once more; and even the Cathedral shewed its walls and a few roofs above the houses.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

the two together, not just one

From this reading The steeples too of Sir Christopher Wren's new churches pricked everywhere; though I saw later that there was yet much building to be done, both in these and in many of the greater houses.

plural of “builder” — a substance added to soaps or detergents to increase their cleansing action

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading The steeples too of Sir Christopher Wren's new churches pricked everywhere; though I saw later that there was yet much building to be done, both in these and in many of the greater houses.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

any large and important church

From this reading Then there had still been left great open spaces where there should have been none; now it was a city once more; and even the Cathedral shewed its walls and a few roofs above the houses.

inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

plural of “chimney” — a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

Christian martyr and patron saint of travellers (3rd century)

From this reading The steeples too of Sir Christopher Wren's new churches pricked everywhere; though I saw later that there was yet much building to be done, both in these and in many of the greater houses.

plural of “church” — one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship

From this reading The steeples too of Sir Christopher Wren's new churches pricked everywhere; though I saw later that there was yet much building to be done, both in these and in many of the greater houses.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

past form of “display” — to show, make visible or apparent

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading The steeples too of Sir Christopher Wren's new churches pricked everywhere; though I saw later that there was yet much building to be done, both in these and in many of the greater houses.

an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

high status importance owing to marked superiority

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

divisible by two

From this reading Then there had still been left great open spaces where there should have been none; now it was a city once more; and even the Cathedral shewed its walls and a few roofs above the houses.

to or in any or all places

From this reading The steeples too of Sir Christopher Wren's new churches pricked everywhere; though I saw later that there was yet much building to be done, both in these and in many of the greater houses.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Then there had still been left great open spaces where there should have been none; now it was a city once more; and even the Cathedral shewed its walls and a few roofs above the houses.

United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

coming next after the fourteenth and just before the sixteenth in position

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

start firing a weapon

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

greater in size or importance or degree

From this reading The steeples too of Sir Christopher Wren's new churches pricked everywhere; though I saw later that there was yet much building to be done, both in these and in many of the greater houses.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Then there had still been left great open spaces where there should have been none; now it was a city once more; and even the Cathedral shewed its walls and a few roofs above the houses.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Then there had still been left great open spaces where there should have been none; now it was a city once more; and even the Cathedral shewed its walls and a few roofs above the houses.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Then there had still been left great open spaces where there should have been none; now it was a city once more; and even the Cathedral shewed its walls and a few roofs above the houses.

the month following May and preceding July

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

a county in southeastern England on the English Channel; formerly an Anglo-Saxon kingdom, it was the first to be colonized by the Romans

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading The steeples too of Sir Christopher Wren's new churches pricked everywhere; though I saw later that there was yet much building to be done, both in these and in many of the greater houses.

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 I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

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 The steeples too of Sir Christopher Wren's new churches pricked everywhere; though I saw later that there was yet much building to be done, both in these and in many of the greater houses.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Then there had still been left great open spaces where there should have been none; now it was a city once more; and even the Cathedral shewed its walls and a few roofs above the houses.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading The steeples too of Sir Christopher Wren's new churches pricked everywhere; though I saw later that there was yet much building to be done, both in these and in many of the greater houses.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading The steeples too of Sir Christopher Wren's new churches pricked everywhere; though I saw later that there was yet much building to be done, both in these and in many of the greater houses.

not one, and not any

From this reading Then there had still been left great open spaces where there should have been none; now it was a city once more; and even the Cathedral shewed its walls and a few roofs above the houses.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Then there had still been left great open spaces where there should have been none; now it was a city once more; and even the Cathedral shewed its walls and a few roofs above the houses.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

on one occasion

From this reading Then there had still been left great open spaces where there should have been none; now it was a city once more; and even the Cathedral shewed its walls and a few roofs above the houses.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Then there had still been left great open spaces where there should have been none; now it was a city once more; and even the Cathedral shewed its walls and a few roofs above the houses.

the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

past form of “prick” — make a small hole into, as with a needle or a thorn

From this reading The steeples too of Sir Christopher Wren's new churches pricked everywhere; though I saw later that there was yet much building to be done, both in these and in many of the greater houses.

gradual improvement or growth or development

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

To recall to mind.

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

(of e.g. celestial bodies) above the horizon

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

plural of “roof” — a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building

From this reading Then there had still been left great open spaces where there should have been none; now it was a city once more; and even the Cathedral shewed its walls and a few roofs above the houses.

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

cut with a saw

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

express in words

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Then there had still been left great open spaces where there should have been none; now it was a city once more; and even the Cathedral shewed its walls and a few roofs above the houses.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Then there had still been left great open spaces where there should have been none; now it was a city once more; and even the Cathedral shewed its walls and a few roofs above the houses.

an instance of visual perception

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

term of address for a man

From this reading The steeples too of Sir Christopher Wren's new churches pricked everywhere; though I saw later that there was yet much building to be done, both in these and in many of the greater houses.

a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

plural of “space” — the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading Then there had still been left great open spaces where there should have been none; now it was a city once more; and even the Cathedral shewed its walls and a few roofs above the houses.

plural of “spire” — a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

plural of “steeple” — a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top

From this reading The steeples too of Sir Christopher Wren's new churches pricked everywhere; though I saw later that there was yet much building to be done, both in these and in many of the greater houses.

not in physical motion

From this reading Then there had still been left great open spaces where there should have been none; now it was a city once more; and even the Cathedral shewed its walls and a few roofs above the houses.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then there had still been left great open spaces where there should have been none; now it was a city once more; and even the Cathedral shewed its walls and a few roofs above the houses.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Then there had still been left great open spaces where there should have been none; now it was a city once more; and even the Cathedral shewed its walls and a few roofs above the houses.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading The steeples too of Sir Christopher Wren's new churches pricked everywhere; though I saw later that there was yet much building to be done, both in these and in many of the greater houses.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading The steeples too of Sir Christopher Wren's new churches pricked everywhere; though I saw later that there was yet much building to be done, both in these and in many of the greater houses.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading The steeples too of Sir Christopher Wren's new churches pricked everywhere; though I saw later that there was yet much building to be done, both in these and in many of the greater houses.

the upper part of anything

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

plural of “wall” — 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 Then there had still been left great open spaces where there should have been none; now it was a city once more; and even the Cathedral shewed its walls and a few roofs above the houses.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading It was drawing on to sunset as we rode up through the Southwark fields and, at the top of a little eminence in the ground saw for the first time plainly all the City displayed before us.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading We came along the Kent road, having caught sight again and again of such spires as had risen after the Great Fire, and of the smoke that rose from the chimneys; but I may say that I was astonished at the progress the builders had made from what I could remember of seven years before.

in or at the place that

From this reading Then there had still been left great open spaces where there should have been none; now it was a city once more; and even the Cathedral shewed its walls and a few roofs above the houses.

in the company of; together with

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The steeples too of Sir Christopher Wren's new churches pricked everywhere; though I saw later that there was yet much building to be done, both in these and in many of the greater houses.

a late time of life

From this reading I came to London on the fifteenth of June, having left it seven years before in company with my father, to go to Paris, two years before he died.

but in spite of that

From this reading The steeples too of Sir Christopher Wren's new churches pricked everywhere; though I saw later that there was yet much building to be done, both in these and in many of the greater houses.