used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
admirableadjectiveUS /ˈædmərəbəl/
deserving of the highest esteem or admiration
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He has improved on Fenimore Cooper’s idea; and I am sure that you will say that the place is almost impregnable when you have seen over it.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading He has improved on Fenimore Cooper’s idea; and I am sure that you will say that the place is almost impregnable when you have seen over it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
ArnoldnounUS /ˈɑːrnəld/
English poet and literary critic (1822-1888)
From this reading “You will find it even stronger than it looks,” laughed Muriel Arnold.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “My uncle has been quite ingenious, I consider, in the way he has fortified it.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading We keep our horses and the buggy on that little island you see just behind the castle.”
buggynounUS /ˈbʌɡi/
a small lightweight carriage; drawn by a single horse
From this reading We keep our horses and the buggy on that little island you see just behind the castle.”
a large and stately mansion
From this reading We keep our horses and the buggy on that little island you see just behind the castle.”
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
deem to be
From this reading “My uncle has been quite ingenious, I consider, in the way he has fortified it.
Cooper'snounUS /ˈkuːpərz/
possessive form of “cooper” — United States industrialist who built the first American locomotive; founded Cooper Union in New York City to offer free courses in the arts and sciences (1791-1883)
From this reading He has improved on Fenimore Cooper’s idea; and I am sure that you will say that the place is almost impregnable when you have seen over it.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
defensiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈfensɪv/
intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
someone who is a detective
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
divisible by two
From this reading “You will find it even stronger than it looks,” laughed Muriel Arnold.
Fenimore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has improved on Fenimore Cooper’s idea; and I am sure that you will say that the place is almost impregnable when you have seen over it.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading “You will find it even stronger than it looks,” laughed Muriel Arnold.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
fortifiedadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrtəfaɪd/
secured with bastions or fortifications
From this reading “My uncle has been quite ingenious, I consider, in the way he has fortified it.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “My uncle has been quite ingenious, I consider, in the way he has fortified it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He has improved on Fenimore Cooper’s idea; and I am sure that you will say that the place is almost impregnable when you have seen over it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “My uncle has been quite ingenious, I consider, in the way he has fortified it.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading We keep our horses and the buggy on that little island you see just behind the castle.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “My uncle has been quite ingenious, I consider, in the way he has fortified it.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He has improved on Fenimore Cooper’s idea; and I am sure that you will say that the place is almost impregnable when you have seen over it.
impregnableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpreɡnəbəl/
immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with
From this reading He has improved on Fenimore Cooper’s idea; and I am sure that you will say that the place is almost impregnable when you have seen over it.
improvedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvd/
made more desirable or valuable or profitable; especially made ready for use or marketing
From this reading He has improved on Fenimore Cooper’s idea; and I am sure that you will say that the place is almost impregnable when you have seen over it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “My uncle has been quite ingenious, I consider, in the way he has fortified it.
ingeniousadjectiveUS /ɪnˈdʒiː.ni.əs/
Clever, original, and remarkably inventive in design and execution.
From this reading “My uncle has been quite ingenious, I consider, in the way he has fortified it.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading We keep our horses and the buggy on that little island you see just behind the castle.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
and nothing more
From this reading We keep our horses and the buggy on that little island you see just behind the castle.”
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading We keep our horses and the buggy on that little island you see just behind the castle.”
lake-dwelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading “You will find it even stronger than it looks,” laughed Muriel Arnold.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading We keep our horses and the buggy on that little island you see just behind the castle.”
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading “You will find it even stronger than it looks,” laughed Muriel Arnold.
used to form the superlative
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
Muriel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You will find it even stronger than it looks,” laughed Muriel Arnold.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “My uncle has been quite ingenious, I consider, in the way he has fortified it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He has improved on Fenimore Cooper’s idea; and I am sure that you will say that the place is almost impregnable when you have seen over it.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We keep our horses and the buggy on that little island you see just behind the castle.”
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He has improved on Fenimore Cooper’s idea; and I am sure that you will say that the place is almost impregnable when you have seen over it.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He has improved on Fenimore Cooper’s idea; and I am sure that you will say that the place is almost impregnable when you have seen over it.
purposesnounUS /ˈpɜːrpəsəz/
plural of “purpose” — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading “My uncle has been quite ingenious, I consider, in the way he has fortified it.
-ing form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
express in words
From this reading He has improved on Fenimore Cooper’s idea; and I am sure that you will say that the place is almost impregnable when you have seen over it.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading We keep our horses and the buggy on that little island you see just behind the castle.”
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He has improved on Fenimore Cooper’s idea; and I am sure that you will say that the place is almost impregnable when you have seen over it.
any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
comparative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading “You will find it even stronger than it looks,” laughed Muriel Arnold.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading He has improved on Fenimore Cooper’s idea; and I am sure that you will say that the place is almost impregnable when you have seen over it.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading “You will find it even stronger than it looks,” laughed Muriel Arnold.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He has improved on Fenimore Cooper’s idea; and I am sure that you will say that the place is almost impregnable when you have seen over it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading “My uncle has been quite ingenious, I consider, in the way he has fortified it.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading “My uncle has been quite ingenious, I consider, in the way he has fortified it.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We keep our horses and the buggy on that little island you see just behind the castle.”
at the time that
From this reading He has improved on Fenimore Cooper’s idea; and I am sure that you will say that the place is almost impregnable when you have seen over it.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “You will find it even stronger than it looks,” laughed Muriel Arnold.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “It is certainly a most admirable situation for safety and defensive purposes,” said Sergeant Dick, regarding the distant lake-dwelling with great curiosity and interest.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You will find it even stronger than it looks,” laughed Muriel Arnold.
