used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Our journey was a dreary and wearisome one.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The women especially were ill-favored, and with an air of savage daring and effrontery I had never seen before.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The women especially were ill-favored, and with an air of savage daring and effrontery I had never seen before.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Our journey was a dreary and wearisome one.
ardentadjectiveUS /ˈɑːrdənt/
characterized by intense emotion
From this reading We were upwards of a week travelling before we reached Paris, which I own presented a very different aspect from what my ardent imagination had depicted.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
a distinct feature or element in a problem
From this reading We were upwards of a week travelling before we reached Paris, which I own presented a very different aspect from what my ardent imagination had depicted.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading We were upwards of a week travelling before we reached Paris, which I own presented a very different aspect from what my ardent imagination had depicted.
combatnounUS /ˈkɑːmbæt/
an engagement fought between two military forces
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
daringnounUS /ˈderɪŋ/
a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
From this reading The women especially were ill-favored, and with an air of savage daring and effrontery I had never seen before.
depictedadjectiveUS /dɪˈpɪktəd/
represented graphically by sketch or design or lines
From this reading We were upwards of a week travelling before we reached Paris, which I own presented a very different aspect from what my ardent imagination had depicted.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading We were upwards of a week travelling before we reached Paris, which I own presented a very different aspect from what my ardent imagination had depicted.
dilapidatedadjectiveUS /dəˈlæpədeɪtɪd/
in deplorable condition
From this reading The narrow streets were scarcely lighted,--it was night,--the houses seemed poor and mean and dilapidated, the inhabitants rude-looking and ill-dressed.
diligencenounUS /ˈdɪlədʒəns/
conscientiousness in paying proper attention to a task; giving the degree of care required in a given situation
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading Our journey was a dreary and wearisome one.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
effronterynounUS /ɪˈfrʌntəri/
audacious (even arrogant) behavior that you have no right to
From this reading The women especially were ill-favored, and with an air of savage daring and effrontery I had never seen before.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading The women especially were ill-favored, and with an air of savage daring and effrontery I had never seen before.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We were upwards of a week travelling before we reached Paris, which I own presented a very different aspect from what my ardent imagination had depicted.
intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We were upwards of a week travelling before we reached Paris, which I own presented a very different aspect from what my ardent imagination had depicted.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The narrow streets were scarcely lighted,--it was night,--the houses seemed poor and mean and dilapidated, the inhabitants rude-looking and ill-dressed.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading We were upwards of a week travelling before we reached Paris, which I own presented a very different aspect from what my ardent imagination had depicted.
ill-dressedadjective
not well dressed
From this reading The narrow streets were scarcely lighted,--it was night,--the houses seemed poor and mean and dilapidated, the inhabitants rude-looking and ill-dressed.
ill-favoredadjective
usually used of a face
From this reading The women especially were ill-favored, and with an air of savage daring and effrontery I had never seen before.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading We were upwards of a week travelling before we reached Paris, which I own presented a very different aspect from what my ardent imagination had depicted.
plural of “inhabitant” — a person who inhabits a particular place
From this reading The narrow streets were scarcely lighted,--it was night,--the houses seemed poor and mean and dilapidated, the inhabitants rude-looking and ill-dressed.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The narrow streets were scarcely lighted,--it was night,--the houses seemed poor and mean and dilapidated, the inhabitants rude-looking and ill-dressed.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading Our journey was a dreary and wearisome one.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
set afire or burning
From this reading The narrow streets were scarcely lighted,--it was night,--the houses seemed poor and mean and dilapidated, the inhabitants rude-looking and ill-dressed.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading The narrow streets were scarcely lighted,--it was night,--the houses seemed poor and mean and dilapidated, the inhabitants rude-looking and ill-dressed.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading We were upwards of a week travelling before we reached Paris, which I own presented a very different aspect from what my ardent imagination had depicted.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The narrow streets were scarcely lighted,--it was night,--the houses seemed poor and mean and dilapidated, the inhabitants rude-looking and ill-dressed.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The women especially were ill-favored, and with an air of savage daring and effrontery I had never seen before.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The narrow streets were scarcely lighted,--it was night,--the houses seemed poor and mean and dilapidated, the inhabitants rude-looking and ill-dressed.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Our journey was a dreary and wearisome one.
oppressedadjectiveUS /əˈprest/
burdened psychologically or mentally
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Our journey was a dreary and wearisome one.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading We were upwards of a week travelling before we reached Paris, which I own presented a very different aspect from what my ardent imagination had depicted.
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading We were upwards of a week travelling before we reached Paris, which I own presented a very different aspect from what my ardent imagination had depicted.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading The narrow streets were scarcely lighted,--it was night,--the houses seemed poor and mean and dilapidated, the inhabitants rude-looking and ill-dressed.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
rainyadjectiveUS /ˈreɪni/
(of weather) wet by periods of rain
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading We were upwards of a week travelling before we reached Paris, which I own presented a very different aspect from what my ardent imagination had depicted.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
rude-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The narrow streets were scarcely lighted,--it was night,--the houses seemed poor and mean and dilapidated, the inhabitants rude-looking and ill-dressed.
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading The women especially were ill-favored, and with an air of savage daring and effrontery I had never seen before.
only a very short time before
From this reading The narrow streets were scarcely lighted,--it was night,--the houses seemed poor and mean and dilapidated, the inhabitants rude-looking and ill-dressed.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The narrow streets were scarcely lighted,--it was night,--the houses seemed poor and mean and dilapidated, the inhabitants rude-looking and ill-dressed.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The women especially were ill-favored, and with an air of savage daring and effrontery I had never seen before.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
not in physical motion
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading The narrow streets were scarcely lighted,--it was night,--the houses seemed poor and mean and dilapidated, the inhabitants rude-looking and ill-dressed.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
travelledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/
familiar with many parts of the world
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
the act of going from one place to another
From this reading We were upwards of a week travelling before we reached Paris, which I own presented a very different aspect from what my ardent imagination had depicted.
upwardsadverbUS /ˈʌpwərdz/
spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position
From this reading We were upwards of a week travelling before we reached Paris, which I own presented a very different aspect from what my ardent imagination had depicted.
precisely as stated
From this reading We were upwards of a week travelling before we reached Paris, which I own presented a very different aspect from what my ardent imagination had depicted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Our journey was a dreary and wearisome one.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We were upwards of a week travelling before we reached Paris, which I own presented a very different aspect from what my ardent imagination had depicted.
wearisomeadjectiveUS /ˈwɪrisəm/
so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
From this reading Our journey was a dreary and wearisome one.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading We were upwards of a week travelling before we reached Paris, which I own presented a very different aspect from what my ardent imagination had depicted.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were upwards of a week travelling before we reached Paris, which I own presented a very different aspect from what my ardent imagination had depicted.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading We were upwards of a week travelling before we reached Paris, which I own presented a very different aspect from what my ardent imagination had depicted.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We were upwards of a week travelling before we reached Paris, which I own presented a very different aspect from what my ardent imagination had depicted.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The women especially were ill-favored, and with an air of savage daring and effrontery I had never seen before.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The women especially were ill-favored, and with an air of savage daring and effrontery I had never seen before.
