used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Everywhere the past was going out with the times and the future was coming on in a torrent.
how long something has existed
From this reading THE TRIBAL INSTINCT The spirit of the age, the worship of the many-headed god of magnitude, was holding carnival in the town.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Everywhere people were pushing one another into the slums or the country.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
buildingsnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋz/
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
carnivalnounUS /ˈkɑːrnəvəl/
a festival marked by merrymaking and processions
From this reading THE TRIBAL INSTINCT The spirit of the age, the worship of the many-headed god of magnitude, was holding carnival in the town.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Everywhere the past was going out with the times and the future was coming on in a torrent.
conservativeadjectiveUS /kənˈsɜːrvətɪv/
resistant to change, particularly in relation to politics or religion
From this reading Two opposing principles, the conservative and the progressive, had struggled for victory, and the progressive principle had won.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Everywhere people were pushing one another into the slums or the country.
demolishverbUS /dɪˈmɑːlɪʃ/
destroy completely
From this reading Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
easieradjectiveUS /ˈiːziər/
comparative of “easy” — posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
erectedverbUS /ɪˈrektəd/
past form of “erect” — construct, build, or erect
From this reading Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
to or in any or all places
From this reading Everywhere people were pushing one another into the slums or the country.
FasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/
more quickly
From this reading Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
flimsilyadverb
in a weak and flimsy manner
From this reading Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
yet to be or coming
From this reading Everywhere the past was going out with the times and the future was coming on in a torrent.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading THE TRIBAL INSTINCT The spirit of the age, the worship of the many-headed god of magnitude, was holding carnival in the town.
the act of departing
From this reading Everywhere the past was going out with the times and the future was coming on in a torrent.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Two opposing principles, the conservative and the progressive, had struggled for victory, and the progressive principle had won.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
the act of retaining something
From this reading THE TRIBAL INSTINCT The spirit of the age, the worship of the many-headed god of magnitude, was holding carnival in the town.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE TRIBAL INSTINCT The spirit of the age, the worship of the many-headed god of magnitude, was holding carnival in the town.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading THE TRIBAL INSTINCT The spirit of the age, the worship of the many-headed god of magnitude, was holding carnival in the town.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Everywhere people were pushing one another into the slums or the country.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
without good reason
From this reading Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
magnitudenounUS /ˈmæɡnətuːd/
the property of relative size or extent (whether large or small)
From this reading THE TRIBAL INSTINCT The spirit of the age, the worship of the many-headed god of magnitude, was holding carnival in the town.
many-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TRIBAL INSTINCT The spirit of the age, the worship of the many-headed god of magnitude, was holding carnival in the town.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE TRIBAL INSTINCT The spirit of the age, the worship of the many-headed god of magnitude, was holding carnival in the town.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Everywhere the past was going out with the times and the future was coming on in a torrent.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Everywhere people were pushing one another into the slums or the country.
opposingadjectiveUS /əˈpoʊzɪŋ/
characterized by active hostility
From this reading Two opposing principles, the conservative and the progressive, had struggled for victory, and the progressive principle had won.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Everywhere people were pushing one another into the slums or the country.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Everywhere the past was going out with the times and the future was coming on in a torrent.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Everywhere the past was going out with the times and the future was coming on in a torrent.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Everywhere people were pushing one another into the slums or the country.
a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct
From this reading Two opposing principles, the conservative and the progressive, had struggled for victory, and the progressive principle had won.
plural of “principle” — a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct
From this reading Two opposing principles, the conservative and the progressive, had struggled for victory, and the progressive principle had won.
progressiveadjectiveUS /prəˈɡresɪv/
favoring or promoting progress
From this reading Two opposing principles, the conservative and the progressive, had struggled for victory, and the progressive principle had won.
pushingnounUS /ˈpʊʃɪŋ/
the act of applying force in order to move something away
From this reading Everywhere people were pushing one another into the slums or the country.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
slumsnounUS /slʌmz/
plural of “slum” — a district of a city marked by poverty and inferior living conditions
From this reading Everywhere people were pushing one another into the slums or the country.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading THE TRIBAL INSTINCT The spirit of the age, the worship of the many-headed god of magnitude, was holding carnival in the town.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading Two opposing principles, the conservative and the progressive, had struggled for victory, and the progressive principle had won.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TRIBAL INSTINCT The spirit of the age, the worship of the many-headed god of magnitude, was holding carnival in the town.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Everywhere the past was going out with the times and the future was coming on in a torrent.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
torrentnounUS /ˈtɔːrənt/
a heavy rain
From this reading Everywhere the past was going out with the times and the future was coming on in a torrent.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading THE TRIBAL INSTINCT The spirit of the age, the worship of the many-headed god of magnitude, was holding carnival in the town.
TRIBALadjectiveUS /ˈtraɪbəl/
relating to or characteristic of a tribe
From this reading THE TRIBAL INSTINCT The spirit of the age, the worship of the many-headed god of magnitude, was holding carnival in the town.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two opposing principles, the conservative and the progressive, had struggled for victory, and the progressive principle had won.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading Two opposing principles, the conservative and the progressive, had struggled for victory, and the progressive principle had won.
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 Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE TRIBAL INSTINCT The spirit of the age, the worship of the many-headed god of magnitude, was holding carnival in the town.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Faster and faster buildings were rising; the higher and more flimsily built, the better it seemed, for it is easier to demolish walls that have been lightly erected.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Everywhere the past was going out with the times and the future was coming on in a torrent.
the basic unit of money in South Korea
From this reading Two opposing principles, the conservative and the progressive, had struggled for victory, and the progressive principle had won.
love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess; venerate as an idol
From this reading THE TRIBAL INSTINCT The spirit of the age, the worship of the many-headed god of magnitude, was holding carnival in the town.
