used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The scenes which had been enacted at Tien-Tsin were here repeated on a larger scale; and acres of buildings were first emptied of everything valuable, and then given over to the flames.
acresnounUS /ˈeɪkərz/
extensive landed property (especially in the country) retained by the owner for his own use
From this reading The scenes which had been enacted at Tien-Tsin were here repeated on a larger scale; and acres of buildings were first emptied of everything valuable, and then given over to the flames.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading THE BURNING OF THE PRISON For several days after the Americans had attacked the Forbidden City, Gilbert’s command had little to do but to guard one of the palaces.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Looting had already begun in Pekin, and but little could be done to stop it while the fighting still continued.
AmericansnounUS /əˈmerəkənz/
plural of “american” — a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading THE BURNING OF THE PRISON For several days after the Americans had attacked the Forbidden City, Gilbert’s command had little to do but to guard one of the palaces.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the mean time the Japanese and the Russians were after the Emperor and Dowager Empress, who were said to have fled first to one city and then another.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading In the mean time the Japanese and the Russians were after the Emperor and Dowager Empress, who were said to have fled first to one city and then another.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The scenes which had been enacted at Tien-Tsin were here repeated on a larger scale; and acres of buildings were first emptied of everything valuable, and then given over to the flames.
attackedverbUS /əˈtækt/
past form of “attack” — launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
From this reading THE BURNING OF THE PRISON For several days after the Americans had attacked the Forbidden City, Gilbert’s command had little to do but to guard one of the palaces.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But the royal family had taken time by the forelock, and could not be overtaken.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The scenes which had been enacted at Tien-Tsin were here repeated on a larger scale; and acres of buildings were first emptied of everything valuable, and then given over to the flames.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Looting had already begun in Pekin, and but little could be done to stop it while the fighting still continued.
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading The scenes which had been enacted at Tien-Tsin were here repeated on a larger scale; and acres of buildings were first emptied of everything valuable, and then given over to the flames.
the act of burning something
From this reading THE BURNING OF THE PRISON For several days after the Americans had attacked the Forbidden City, Gilbert’s command had little to do but to guard one of the palaces.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE BURNING OF THE PRISON For several days after the Americans had attacked the Forbidden City, Gilbert’s command had little to do but to guard one of the palaces.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But the royal family had taken time by the forelock, and could not be overtaken.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading THE BURNING OF THE PRISON For several days after the Americans had attacked the Forbidden City, Gilbert’s command had little to do but to guard one of the palaces.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading THE BURNING OF THE PRISON For several days after the Americans had attacked the Forbidden City, Gilbert’s command had little to do but to guard one of the palaces.
without stop or interruption
From this reading Looting had already begun in Pekin, and but little could be done to stop it while the fighting still continued.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But the royal family had taken time by the forelock, and could not be overtaken.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading THE BURNING OF THE PRISON For several days after the Americans had attacked the Forbidden City, Gilbert’s command had little to do but to guard one of the palaces.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading THE BURNING OF THE PRISON For several days after the Americans had attacked the Forbidden City, Gilbert’s command had little to do but to guard one of the palaces.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Looting had already begun in Pekin, and but little could be done to stop it while the fighting still continued.
DowagernounUS /ˈdaʊədʒər/
a widow holding property received from her deceased husband
From this reading In the mean time the Japanese and the Russians were after the Emperor and Dowager Empress, who were said to have fled first to one city and then another.
the male ruler of an empire
From this reading In the mean time the Japanese and the Russians were after the Emperor and Dowager Empress, who were said to have fled first to one city and then another.
EmpressnounUS /ˈempres/
a woman emperor or the wife of an emperor
From this reading In the mean time the Japanese and the Russians were after the Emperor and Dowager Empress, who were said to have fled first to one city and then another.
emptiedverbUS /ˈemptid/
inflected form of “empty” — make void or empty of contents
From this reading The scenes which had been enacted at Tien-Tsin were here repeated on a larger scale; and acres of buildings were first emptied of everything valuable, and then given over to the flames.
enactedverbUS /eˈnæktəd/
past form of “enact” — order by virtue of superior authority; decree
From this reading The scenes which had been enacted at Tien-Tsin were here repeated on a larger scale; and acres of buildings were first emptied of everything valuable, and then given over to the flames.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading The scenes which had been enacted at Tien-Tsin were here repeated on a larger scale; and acres of buildings were first emptied of everything valuable, and then given over to the flames.
a social unit living together
From this reading But the royal family had taken time by the forelock, and could not be overtaken.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading Looting had already begun in Pekin, and but little could be done to stop it while the fighting still continued.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In the mean time the Japanese and the Russians were after the Emperor and Dowager Empress, who were said to have fled first to one city and then another.
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading The scenes which had been enacted at Tien-Tsin were here repeated on a larger scale; and acres of buildings were first emptied of everything valuable, and then given over to the flames.
inflected form of “flee” — run away quickly
From this reading In the mean time the Japanese and the Russians were after the Emperor and Dowager Empress, who were said to have fled first to one city and then another.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE BURNING OF THE PRISON For several days after the Americans had attacked the Forbidden City, Gilbert’s command had little to do but to guard one of the palaces.
ForbiddenadjectiveUS /fərˈbɪd.ən/
Not allowed; banned or prohibited by rule or law.
From this reading THE BURNING OF THE PRISON For several days after the Americans had attacked the Forbidden City, Gilbert’s command had little to do but to guard one of the palaces.
forelocknoun
a lock of hair growing (or falling) over the forehead
From this reading But the royal family had taken time by the forelock, and could not be overtaken.
Gilbert'snounUS /ˈɡɪlbərts/
possessive form of “gilbert” — a unit of magnetomotive force equal to 0.7958 ampere-turns
From this reading THE BURNING OF THE PRISON For several days after the Americans had attacked the Forbidden City, Gilbert’s command had little to do but to guard one of the palaces.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading The scenes which had been enacted at Tien-Tsin were here repeated on a larger scale; and acres of buildings were first emptied of everything valuable, and then given over to the flames.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading THE BURNING OF THE PRISON For several days after the Americans had attacked the Forbidden City, Gilbert’s command had little to do but to guard one of the palaces.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE BURNING OF THE PRISON For several days after the Americans had attacked the Forbidden City, Gilbert’s command had little to do but to guard one of the palaces.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In the mean time the Japanese and the Russians were after the Emperor and Dowager Empress, who were said to have fled first to one city and then another.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading The scenes which had been enacted at Tien-Tsin were here repeated on a larger scale; and acres of buildings were first emptied of everything valuable, and then given over to the flames.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the mean time the Japanese and the Russians were after the Emperor and Dowager Empress, who were said to have fled first to one city and then another.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Looting had already begun in Pekin, and but little could be done to stop it while the fighting still continued.
JapanesenounUS /ˌdʒæpəˈniːz/
a native or inhabitant of Japan
From this reading In the mean time the Japanese and the Russians were after the Emperor and Dowager Empress, who were said to have fled first to one city and then another.
large or big relative to something else
From this reading The scenes which had been enacted at Tien-Tsin were here repeated on a larger scale; and acres of buildings were first emptied of everything valuable, and then given over to the flames.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE BURNING OF THE PRISON For several days after the Americans had attacked the Forbidden City, Gilbert’s command had little to do but to guard one of the palaces.
LootingnounUS /ˈluːtɪŋ/
plundering during riots or in wartime
From this reading Looting had already begun in Pekin, and but little could be done to stop it while the fighting still continued.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading In the mean time the Japanese and the Russians were after the Emperor and Dowager Empress, who were said to have fled first to one city and then another.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But the royal family had taken time by the forelock, and could not be overtaken.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BURNING OF THE PRISON For several days after the Americans had attacked the Forbidden City, Gilbert’s command had little to do but to guard one of the palaces.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The scenes which had been enacted at Tien-Tsin were here repeated on a larger scale; and acres of buildings were first emptied of everything valuable, and then given over to the flames.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE BURNING OF THE PRISON For several days after the Americans had attacked the Forbidden City, Gilbert’s command had little to do but to guard one of the palaces.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The scenes which had been enacted at Tien-Tsin were here repeated on a larger scale; and acres of buildings were first emptied of everything valuable, and then given over to the flames.
overtakenverbUS /ˈoʊvərteɪkən/
inflected form of “overtake” — catch up with and possibly overtake
From this reading But the royal family had taken time by the forelock, and could not be overtaken.
palacesnounUS /ˈpæləsəz/
plural of “palace” — a large and stately mansion
From this reading THE BURNING OF THE PRISON For several days after the Americans had attacked the Forbidden City, Gilbert’s command had little to do but to guard one of the palaces.
Pekin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looting had already begun in Pekin, and but little could be done to stop it while the fighting still continued.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading THE BURNING OF THE PRISON For several days after the Americans had attacked the Forbidden City, Gilbert’s command had little to do but to guard one of the palaces.
recurring again and again
From this reading The scenes which had been enacted at Tien-Tsin were here repeated on a larger scale; and acres of buildings were first emptied of everything valuable, and then given over to the flames.
royaladjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading But the royal family had taken time by the forelock, and could not be overtaken.
RussiansnounUS /ˈrʌʃənz/
plural of “russian” — a native or inhabitant of Russia
From this reading In the mean time the Japanese and the Russians were after the Emperor and Dowager Empress, who were said to have fled first to one city and then another.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading In the mean time the Japanese and the Russians were after the Emperor and Dowager Empress, who were said to have fled first to one city and then another.
scalenounUS /skeɪl/
an ordered reference standard
From this reading The scenes which had been enacted at Tien-Tsin were here repeated on a larger scale; and acres of buildings were first emptied of everything valuable, and then given over to the flames.
plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs
From this reading The scenes which had been enacted at Tien-Tsin were here repeated on a larger scale; and acres of buildings were first emptied of everything valuable, and then given over to the flames.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading THE BURNING OF THE PRISON For several days after the Americans had attacked the Forbidden City, Gilbert’s command had little to do but to guard one of the palaces.
not in physical motion
From this reading Looting had already begun in Pekin, and but little could be done to stop it while the fighting still continued.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading Looting had already begun in Pekin, and but little could be done to stop it while the fighting still continued.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading But the royal family had taken time by the forelock, and could not be overtaken.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BURNING OF THE PRISON For several days after the Americans had attacked the Forbidden City, Gilbert’s command had little to do but to guard one of the palaces.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading In the mean time the Japanese and the Russians were after the Emperor and Dowager Empress, who were said to have fled first to one city and then another.
Tien-Tsin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scenes which had been enacted at Tien-Tsin were here repeated on a larger scale; and acres of buildings were first emptied of everything valuable, and then given over to the flames.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading In the mean time the Japanese and the Russians were after the Emperor and Dowager Empress, who were said to have fled first to one city and then another.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE BURNING OF THE PRISON For several days after the Americans had attacked the Forbidden City, Gilbert’s command had little to do but to guard one of the palaces.
having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange
From this reading The scenes which had been enacted at Tien-Tsin were here repeated on a larger scale; and acres of buildings were first emptied of everything valuable, and then given over to the flames.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In the mean time the Japanese and the Russians were after the Emperor and Dowager Empress, who were said to have fled first to one city and then another.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The scenes which had been enacted at Tien-Tsin were here repeated on a larger scale; and acres of buildings were first emptied of everything valuable, and then given over to the flames.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Looting had already begun in Pekin, and but little could be done to stop it while the fighting still continued.
which person or people
From this reading In the mean time the Japanese and the Russians were after the Emperor and Dowager Empress, who were said to have fled first to one city and then another.
