used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There were a great many accounts in very early times, of stones having fallen from the sky.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
(sentence connectors) because of the reason given
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
accountsnounUS /əˈkaʊnts/
plural of “account” — a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading There were a great many accounts in very early times, of stones having fallen from the sky.
AEROLITES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading METEORIC STONES OR AEROLITES.
in the past
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
(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 This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
for the reason that
From this reading They denied the existence of aerolites, for no other reason than because they had not seen them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
centuriesnounUS /ˈsentʃəriz/
plural of “century” — a period of 100 years
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
ChinanounUS /ˈtʃaɪnə/
a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
being joined in close association
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
deniedverbUS /dɪˈnaɪd/
inflected form of “deny” — declare untrue; contradict
From this reading They denied the existence of aerolites, for no other reason than because they had not seen them.
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 There were a great many accounts in very early times, of stones having fallen from the sky.
lying toward or situated in the east
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
the 2nd smallest continent (actually a vast peninsula of Eurasia); the British use “Europe” to refer to all of the continent except the British Isles
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading They denied the existence of aerolites, for no other reason than because they had not seen them.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading There were a great many accounts in very early times, of stones having fallen from the sky.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There were a great many accounts in very early times, of stones having fallen from the sky.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading There were a great many accounts in very early times, of stones having fallen from the sky.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading There were a great many accounts in very early times, of stones having fallen from the sky.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There were a great many accounts in very early times, of stones having fallen from the sky.
incredulitynounUS /ˌɪnkrəˈduːlɪti/
doubt about the truth of something
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
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 There were a great many accounts in very early times, of stones having fallen from the sky.
METEORICadjectiveUS /ˌmiːtiˈɔːrɪk/
of or pertaining to atmospheric phenomena, especially weather and weather conditions
From this reading METEORIC STONES OR AEROLITES.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
nationsnounUS /ˈneɪʃənz/
plural of “nation” — a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
not any; not one
From this reading They denied the existence of aerolites, for no other reason than because they had not seen them.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
occurrencesnounUS /əˈkɜːrənsɪz/
plural of “occurrence” — an event that happens
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There were a great many accounts in very early times, of stones having fallen from the sky.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading METEORIC STONES OR AEROLITES.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading They denied the existence of aerolites, for no other reason than because they had not seen them.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
recordsnounUS /rəˈkɔːrdz/
plural of “record” — anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
reportsnounUS /rɪˈpɔːrts/
plural of “report” — a written document describing the findings of some individual or group
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading They denied the existence of aerolites, for no other reason than because they had not seen them.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading There were a great many accounts in very early times, of stones having fallen from the sky.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading METEORIC STONES OR AEROLITES.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
superstitionnounUS /ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃən/
an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There were a great many accounts in very early times, of stones having fallen from the sky.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They denied the existence of aerolites, for no other reason than because they had not seen them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were a great many accounts in very early times, of stones having fallen from the sky.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
up to a particular time
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading There were a great many accounts in very early times, of stones having fallen from the sky.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
precisely as stated
From this reading There were a great many accounts in very early times, of stones having fallen from the sky.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were a great many accounts in very early times, of stones having fallen from the sky.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In China and some other eastern nations, they have long had a notion that such occurrences were connected with political events, and accordingly they have kept careful records of what they have known to fall for centuries back.
a late time of life
From this reading This was a vain superstition, but it was not more vain than the incredulity with which these reports were received by nearly all the learned of Europe, till about forty years ago.
