used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
(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 All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
ascendingadjectiveUS /əˈsendɪŋ/
moving or going or growing upward
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading On the sides and summit of the hill we found yellow gorse,--heath of two colors, I think, and very beautiful,--and here and there a harebell.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The miners were not now hoisting ore from the shaft, but were washing and selecting the valuable fragments from great heaps of crumbled stone and earth.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
colorsnounUS /ˈkʌlərz/
a flag that shows its nationality
From this reading On the sides and summit of the hill we found yellow gorse,--heath of two colors, I think, and very beautiful,--and here and there a harebell.
coppernounUS /ˈkɑːpər/
a ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic element; occurs in various minerals but is the only metal that occurs abundantly in large masses; used as an electrical and thermal conductor
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
crumbledverbUS /ˈkrʌmbəld/
past form of “crumble” — fall apart
From this reading The miners were not now hoisting ore from the shaft, but were washing and selecting the valuable fragments from great heaps of crumbled stone and earth.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
donkeysnounUS /ˈdɑːŋkiz/
plural of “donkey” — the symbol of the Democratic Party; introduced in cartoons by Thomas Nast in 1874
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading The miners were not now hoisting ore from the shaft, but were washing and selecting the valuable fragments from great heaps of crumbled stone and earth.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
fearfullyadverb
in fear
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
set up or found
From this reading On the sides and summit of the hill we found yellow gorse,--heath of two colors, I think, and very beautiful,--and here and there a harebell.
fragmentsnounUS /ˈfræɡmənts/
plural of “fragment” — a piece broken off or cut off of something else
From this reading The miners were not now hoisting ore from the shaft, but were washing and selecting the valuable fragments from great heaps of crumbled stone and earth.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The miners were not now hoisting ore from the shaft, but were washing and selecting the valuable fragments from great heaps of crumbled stone and earth.
gorsenoun
very spiny and dense evergreen shrub with fragrant golden-yellow flowers; common throughout western Europe
From this reading On the sides and summit of the hill we found yellow gorse,--heath of two colors, I think, and very beautiful,--and here and there a harebell.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The miners were not now hoisting ore from the shaft, but were washing and selecting the valuable fragments from great heaps of crumbled stone and earth.
harebellnoun
sometimes placed in genus Scilla
From this reading On the sides and summit of the hill we found yellow gorse,--heath of two colors, I think, and very beautiful,--and here and there a harebell.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
heapsnounUS /hiːps/
a large number or amount
From this reading The miners were not now hoisting ore from the shaft, but were washing and selecting the valuable fragments from great heaps of crumbled stone and earth.
heathnounUS /hiːθ/
a low evergreen shrub of the family Ericaceae; has small bell-shaped pink or purple flowers
From this reading On the sides and summit of the hill we found yellow gorse,--heath of two colors, I think, and very beautiful,--and here and there a harebell.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading On the sides and summit of the hill we found yellow gorse,--heath of two colors, I think, and very beautiful,--and here and there a harebell.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
hoistingverbUS /ˈhɔɪstɪŋ/
-ing form of “hoist” — raise or haul up with or as if with mechanical help
From this reading The miners were not now hoisting ore from the shaft, but were washing and selecting the valuable fragments from great heaps of crumbled stone and earth.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading On the sides and summit of the hill we found yellow gorse,--heath of two colors, I think, and very beautiful,--and here and there a harebell.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
and nothing more
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
come together
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
minersnounUS /ˈmaɪnərz/
plural of “miner” — laborer who works in a mine
From this reading The miners were not now hoisting ore from the shaft, but were washing and selecting the valuable fragments from great heaps of crumbled stone and earth.
minesnounUS /maɪnz/
plural of “mine” — excavation in the earth from which ores and minerals are extracted
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The miners were not now hoisting ore from the shaft, but were washing and selecting the valuable fragments from great heaps of crumbled stone and earth.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The miners were not now hoisting ore from the shaft, but were washing and selecting the valuable fragments from great heaps of crumbled stone and earth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
orenounUS /ɔːr/
a mineral that contains metal that is valuable enough to be mined
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
plural of “party” — an organization to gain political power
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
the activity of protecting someone or something
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
salenounUS /seɪl/
a particular instance of selling
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
selectingverbUS /səˈlektɪŋ/
-ing form of “select” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading The miners were not now hoisting ore from the shaft, but were washing and selecting the valuable fragments from great heaps of crumbled stone and earth.
showing reason or sound judgment
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
shaftnounUS /ʃæft/
a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer
From this reading The miners were not now hoisting ore from the shaft, but were washing and selecting the valuable fragments from great heaps of crumbled stone and earth.
shaftsnounUS /ʃæfts/
plural of “shaft” — a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading On the sides and summit of the hill we found yellow gorse,--heath of two colors, I think, and very beautiful,--and here and there a harebell.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
specimensnounUS /ˈspesəmənz/
plural of “specimen” — an example regarded as typical of its class
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
not in physical motion
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The miners were not now hoisting ore from the shaft, but were washing and selecting the valuable fragments from great heaps of crumbled stone and earth.
to a sufficient degree
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
summitnounUS /ˈsʌmət/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading On the sides and summit of the hill we found yellow gorse,--heath of two colors, I think, and very beautiful,--and here and there a harebell.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
in or at that place or location
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading On the sides and summit of the hill we found yellow gorse,--heath of two colors, I think, and very beautiful,--and here and there a harebell.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
in the direction of
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading On the sides and summit of the hill we found yellow gorse,--heath of two colors, I think, and very beautiful,--and here and there a harebell.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange
From this reading The miners were not now hoisting ore from the shaft, but were washing and selecting the valuable fragments from great heaps of crumbled stone and earth.
precisely as stated
From this reading On the sides and summit of the hill we found yellow gorse,--heath of two colors, I think, and very beautiful,--and here and there a harebell.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
washingnounUS /ˈwɑːʃɪŋ/
the work of cleansing (usually with soap and water)
From this reading The miners were not now hoisting ore from the shaft, but were washing and selecting the valuable fragments from great heaps of crumbled stone and earth.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Having examined these matters sufficiently, we descended the hill towards the village, meeting parties of visitors, mounted on donkeys, which is a much more sensible way of ascending in a hot day than to walk.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
well-holes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The miners were not now hoisting ore from the shaft, but were washing and selecting the valuable fragments from great heaps of crumbled stone and earth.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
in the company of; together with
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading All about this spot there are shafts and well-holes, looking fearfully deep and black, and without the slightest protection, so that we might just as easily have walked into them as not.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading We went to one of the mines which are still worked, and boys came running to meet us with specimens of the copper ore for sale.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading On the sides and summit of the hill we found yellow gorse,--heath of two colors, I think, and very beautiful,--and here and there a harebell.
