used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
accommodationnounUS /əˌkɑːməˈdeɪʃən/
making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
ancientsnounUS /ˈeɪntʃənts/
people who lived in times long past (especially during the historical period before the fall of the Roman Empire in western Europe)
From this reading These ancients looked with a degree of astonishment upon this cluster of youths, whose very jauntiness was suggestive of a prime lark.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading An old signboard, written by another hand than had done Jago Smith’s, was seen nailed to a tree.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading These ancients looked with a degree of astonishment upon this cluster of youths, whose very jauntiness was suggestive of a prime lark.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading An old signboard, written by another hand than had done Jago Smith’s, was seen nailed to a tree.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
clusterverbUS /ˈklʌstər/
come together as in a cluster or flock
From this reading These ancients looked with a degree of astonishment upon this cluster of youths, whose very jauntiness was suggestive of a prime lark.
cookingnounUS /ˈkʊkɪŋ/
the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading These ancients looked with a degree of astonishment upon this cluster of youths, whose very jauntiness was suggestive of a prime lark.
diggersnounUS /ˈdɪɡərz/
plural of “digger” — a laborer who digs
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
diggingsnoun
an excavation for ore or precious stones or for archaeology
From this reading Arrived at the diggings, the party had a good look round.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading An old signboard, written by another hand than had done Jago Smith’s, was seen nailed to a tree.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
half the width of an em
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
to or in any or all places
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
fossikers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Arrived at the diggings, the party had a good look round.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Arrived at the diggings, the party had a good look round.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading An old signboard, written by another hand than had done Jago Smith’s, was seen nailed to a tree.
heapsnounUS /hiːps/
a large number or amount
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
hivenounUS /haɪv/
a teeming multitude
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
indicateverbUS /ˈɪndəkeɪt/
be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
Jago
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An old signboard, written by another hand than had done Jago Smith’s, was seen nailed to a tree.
jauntinessnoun
stylishness as evidenced by a smart appearance
From this reading These ancients looked with a degree of astonishment upon this cluster of youths, whose very jauntiness was suggestive of a prime lark.
larknounUS /lɑːrk/
North American songbirds having a yellow breast
From this reading These ancients looked with a degree of astonishment upon this cluster of youths, whose very jauntiness was suggestive of a prime lark.
the act of departing
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Arrived at the diggings, the party had a good look round.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading These ancients looked with a degree of astonishment upon this cluster of youths, whose very jauntiness was suggestive of a prime lark.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
nailedverbUS /neɪld/
past form of “nail” — attach something somewhere by means of nails
From this reading An old signboard, written by another hand than had done Jago Smith’s, was seen nailed to a tree.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
on one occasion
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Arrived at the diggings, the party had a good look round.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
primeadjectiveUS /praɪm/
first in rank or degree
From this reading These ancients looked with a degree of astonishment upon this cluster of youths, whose very jauntiness was suggestive of a prime lark.
reignedverbUS /reɪnd/
past form of “reign” — have sovereign power
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Arrived at the diggings, the party had a good look round.
routenounUS /ruːt/
an established line of travel or access
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
rubbishnounUS /ˈrʌbɪʃ/
worthless material that is to be disposed of
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
rustyadjectiveUS /ˈrʌsti/
covered with or consisting of rust
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
except for; apart from
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading An old signboard, written by another hand than had done Jago Smith’s, was seen nailed to a tree.
plural of “show” — the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
signboardnoun
structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted
From this reading An old signboard, written by another hand than had done Jago Smith’s, was seen nailed to a tree.
Smith'snounUS /smɪθs/
possessive form of “smith” — Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)
From this reading An old signboard, written by another hand than had done Jago Smith’s, was seen nailed to a tree.
solitudenounUS /ˈsɑːlətuːd/
a state of social isolation
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
suggestiveadjectiveUS /səˈdʒestɪv/
tending to suggest or imply
From this reading These ancients looked with a degree of astonishment upon this cluster of youths, whose very jauntiness was suggestive of a prime lark.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading An old signboard, written by another hand than had done Jago Smith’s, was seen nailed to a tree.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These ancients looked with a degree of astonishment upon this cluster of youths, whose very jauntiness was suggestive of a prime lark.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading These ancients looked with a degree of astonishment upon this cluster of youths, whose very jauntiness was suggestive of a prime lark.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading An old signboard, written by another hand than had done Jago Smith’s, was seen nailed to a tree.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading These ancients looked with a degree of astonishment upon this cluster of youths, whose very jauntiness was suggestive of a prime lark.
utensilsnounUS /juːˈtensəlz/
plural of “utensil” — an implement for practical use (especially in a household)
From this reading Intense solitude reigned everywhere, and save for the heaps of rusty cooking utensils and other rubbish there was little to indicate that the place had once been a busy hive of life and energy.
precisely as stated
From this reading These ancients looked with a degree of astonishment upon this cluster of youths, whose very jauntiness was suggestive of a prime lark.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading These ancients looked with a degree of astonishment upon this cluster of youths, whose very jauntiness was suggestive of a prime lark.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
which person or people
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
belonging to which person
From this reading These ancients looked with a degree of astonishment upon this cluster of youths, whose very jauntiness was suggestive of a prime lark.
in the company of; together with
From this reading These ancients looked with a degree of astonishment upon this cluster of youths, whose very jauntiness was suggestive of a prime lark.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
workingsnounUS /ˈwɜːrkɪŋz/
the internal mechanism of a device
From this reading Leaving the accommodation house after an early breakfast, the band of diggers, for such we must now call them, arrived at the old workings in a couple of hours, passing _en route_ two or three fossikers who were working their shows.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading An old signboard, written by another hand than had done Jago Smith’s, was seen nailed to a tree.
youthsnounUS /juːðz/
plural of “youth” — a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading These ancients looked with a degree of astonishment upon this cluster of youths, whose very jauntiness was suggestive of a prime lark.
