used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The history of Joseph: they all found a difficulty in realising that this had actually occurred.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading When I told them that buildings now stood which had been erected about the time of Joseph, one said that it was impossible, as they must have fallen down ere this.
in actual fact
From this reading The history of Joseph: they all found a difficulty in realising that this had actually occurred.
(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 The history of Joseph: they all found a difficulty in realising that this had actually occurred.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One asked if Egypt existed now, and if people lived in it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When I told them that buildings now stood which had been erected about the time of Joseph, one said that it was impossible, as they must have fallen down ere this.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading One asked if Egypt existed now, and if people lived in it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading When I told them that buildings now stood which had been erected about the time of Joseph, one said that it was impossible, as they must have fallen down ere this.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading One asked if _all_ books were true.
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 When I told them that buildings now stood which had been erected about the time of Joseph, one said that it was impossible, as they must have fallen down ere this.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading The history of Joseph: they all found a difficulty in realising that this had actually occurred.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading When I told them that buildings now stood which had been erected about the time of Joseph, one said that it was impossible, as they must have fallen down ere this.
EgyptnounUS /ˈiːdʒəpt/
a republic in northeastern Africa known as the United Arab Republic until 1971; site of an ancient civilization that flourished from 2600 to 30 BC
From this reading One asked if Egypt existed now, and if people lived in it.
an old word for “before”
From this reading When I told them that buildings now stood which had been erected about the time of Joseph, one said that it was impossible, as they must have fallen down ere this.
erectedverbUS /ɪˈrektəd/
past form of “erect” — construct, build, or erect
From this reading When I told them that buildings now stood which had been erected about the time of Joseph, one said that it was impossible, as they must have fallen down ere this.
existedverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪstəd/
past form of “exist” — have an existence, be extant
From this reading One asked if Egypt existed now, and if people lived in it.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading When I told them that buildings now stood which had been erected about the time of Joseph, one said that it was impossible, as they must have fallen down ere this.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading I showed them the form of a pyramid, and they were satisfied.
set up or found
From this reading The history of Joseph: they all found a difficulty in realising that this had actually occurred.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The history of Joseph: they all found a difficulty in realising that this had actually occurred.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading When I told them that buildings now stood which had been erected about the time of Joseph, one said that it was impossible, as they must have fallen down ere this.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading The history of Joseph: they all found a difficulty in realising that this had actually occurred.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading When I told them that buildings now stood which had been erected about the time of Joseph, one said that it was impossible, as they must have fallen down ere this.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading One asked if Egypt existed now, and if people lived in it.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading When I told them that buildings now stood which had been erected about the time of Joseph, one said that it was impossible, as they must have fallen down ere this.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The history of Joseph: they all found a difficulty in realising that this had actually occurred.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading One asked if Egypt existed now, and if people lived in it.
leader of the Nez Perce in their retreat from United States troops (1840-1904)
From this reading The history of Joseph: they all found a difficulty in realising that this had actually occurred.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading One asked if Egypt existed now, and if people lived in it.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading When I told them that buildings now stood which had been erected about the time of Joseph, one said that it was impossible, as they must have fallen down ere this.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading One asked if Egypt existed now, and if people lived in it.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading The history of Joseph: they all found a difficulty in realising that this had actually occurred.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The history of Joseph: they all found a difficulty in realising that this had actually occurred.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One asked if Egypt existed now, and if people lived in it.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading One asked if Egypt existed now, and if people lived in it.
pyramidverbUS /ˈpɪrəmɪd/
enlarge one's holdings on an exchange on a continued rise by using paper profits as margin to buy additional amounts
From this reading I showed them the form of a pyramid, and they were satisfied.
realising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The history of Joseph: they all found a difficulty in realising that this had actually occurred.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading When I told them that buildings now stood which had been erected about the time of Joseph, one said that it was impossible, as they must have fallen down ere this.
filled with satisfaction
From this reading I showed them the form of a pyramid, and they were satisfied.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading I showed them the form of a pyramid, and they were satisfied.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading When I told them that buildings now stood which had been erected about the time of Joseph, one said that it was impossible, as they must have fallen down ere this.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The history of Joseph: they all found a difficulty in realising that this had actually occurred.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The history of Joseph: they all found a difficulty in realising that this had actually occurred.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading When I told them that buildings now stood which had been erected about the time of Joseph, one said that it was impossible, as they must have fallen down ere this.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The history of Joseph: they all found a difficulty in realising that this had actually occurred.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The history of Joseph: they all found a difficulty in realising that this had actually occurred.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading When I told them that buildings now stood which had been erected about the time of Joseph, one said that it was impossible, as they must have fallen down ere this.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading When I told them that buildings now stood which had been erected about the time of Joseph, one said that it was impossible, as they must have fallen down ere this.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading One asked if _all_ books were true.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When I told them that buildings now stood which had been erected about the time of Joseph, one said that it was impossible, as they must have fallen down ere this.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I showed them the form of a pyramid, and they were satisfied.
at the time that
From this reading When I told them that buildings now stood which had been erected about the time of Joseph, one said that it was impossible, as they must have fallen down ere this.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When I told them that buildings now stood which had been erected about the time of Joseph, one said that it was impossible, as they must have fallen down ere this.
