used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
AreasnounUS /ˈeriəz/
plural of “area” — a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
From this reading Areas none too fertile at the best of times reverted to parched deserts, wells and river-beds dried, canals shrank, strained to the limit of inadequate supply.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Now the hot weather had set in unusually, as it were, malevolently early.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Areas none too fertile at the best of times reverted to parched deserts, wells and river-beds dried, canals shrank, strained to the limit of inadequate supply.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
plural of “beast” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading People and beasts were dying of disease and starvation, and officials, both European and Indian, fought one of Nature's remedies for over-population with every ounce of human energy.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading Areas none too fertile at the best of times reverted to parched deserts, wells and river-beds dried, canals shrank, strained to the limit of inadequate supply.
the two together, not just one
From this reading People and beasts were dying of disease and starvation, and officials, both European and Indian, fought one of Nature's remedies for over-population with every ounce of human energy.
canalsnounUS /kəˈnælz/
plural of “canal” — (astronomy) an indistinct surface feature of Mars once thought to be a system of channels; they are now believed to be an optical illusion
From this reading Areas none too fertile at the best of times reverted to parched deserts, wells and river-beds dried, canals shrank, strained to the limit of inadequate supply.
consequentadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnsəkwənt/
occurring with or following as a consequence
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
cropsnounUS /krɑːps/
plural of “crop” — the yield from plants in a single growing season
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
desertsnounUS /ˈdezərts/
plural of “desert” — arid land with little or no vegetation
From this reading Areas none too fertile at the best of times reverted to parched deserts, wells and river-beds dried, canals shrank, strained to the limit of inadequate supply.
diseasenounUS /dɪˈziːz/
an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning
From this reading People and beasts were dying of disease and starvation, and officials, both European and Indian, fought one of Nature's remedies for over-population with every ounce of human energy.
doggedadjectiveUS /dɔːɡd/
stubbornly unyielding
From this reading Philip Flint sat in his office-tent weary, over-taxed, writing with a sort of dogged persistence.
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
driedadjectiveUS /draɪd/
not still wet
From this reading Areas none too fertile at the best of times reverted to parched deserts, wells and river-beds dried, canals shrank, strained to the limit of inadequate supply.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading People and beasts were dying of disease and starvation, and officials, both European and Indian, fought one of Nature's remedies for over-population with every ounce of human energy.
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 Now the hot weather had set in unusually, as it were, malevolently early.
echoedverbUS /ˈekoʊd/
past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
From this reading People and beasts were dying of disease and starvation, and officials, both European and Indian, fought one of Nature's remedies for over-population with every ounce of human energy.
EuropeannounUS /ˌjʊrəˈpiːən/
a native or inhabitant of Europe
From this reading People and beasts were dying of disease and starvation, and officials, both European and Indian, fought one of Nature's remedies for over-population with every ounce of human energy.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading People and beasts were dying of disease and starvation, and officials, both European and Indian, fought one of Nature's remedies for over-population with every ounce of human energy.
an act that fails
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
faminenounUS /ˈfæmən/
an acute insufficiency
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
fertileadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːrtəl/
capable of reproducing
From this reading Areas none too fertile at the best of times reverted to parched deserts, wells and river-beds dried, canals shrank, strained to the limit of inadequate supply.
FlintnounUS /flɪnt/
a hard kind of stone; a form of silica more opaque than chalcedony
From this reading Philip Flint sat in his office-tent weary, over-taxed, writing with a sort of dogged persistence.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading People and beasts were dying of disease and starvation, and officials, both European and Indian, fought one of Nature's remedies for over-population with every ounce of human energy.
inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading People and beasts were dying of disease and starvation, and officials, both European and Indian, fought one of Nature's remedies for over-population with every ounce of human energy.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Now the hot weather had set in unusually, as it were, malevolently early.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Philip Flint sat in his office-tent weary, over-taxed, writing with a sort of dogged persistence.
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 Now the hot weather had set in unusually, as it were, malevolently early.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading People and beasts were dying of disease and starvation, and officials, both European and Indian, fought one of Nature's remedies for over-population with every ounce of human energy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Now the hot weather had set in unusually, as it were, malevolently early.
inadequateadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnædəkwət/
lacking the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
From this reading Areas none too fertile at the best of times reverted to parched deserts, wells and river-beds dried, canals shrank, strained to the limit of inadequate supply.
a republic in the Asian subcontinent in southern Asia; second most populous country in the world; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading People and beasts were dying of disease and starvation, and officials, both European and Indian, fought one of Nature's remedies for over-population with every ounce of human energy.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Now the hot weather had set in unusually, as it were, malevolently early.
limitnounUS /ˈlɪmət/
the greatest possible degree of something
From this reading Areas none too fertile at the best of times reverted to parched deserts, wells and river-beds dried, canals shrank, strained to the limit of inadequate supply.
malevolentlyadverb
in a malevolent manner
From this reading Now the hot weather had set in unusually, as it were, malevolently early.
monsoonnounUS /mɑːnˈsuːn/
a seasonal wind in southern Asia; blows from the southwest (bringing rain) in summer and from the northeast in winter
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
Nature'snounUS /ˈneɪtʃərz/
possessive form of “nature” — the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading People and beasts were dying of disease and starvation, and officials, both European and Indian, fought one of Nature's remedies for over-population with every ounce of human energy.
not one, and not any
From this reading Areas none too fertile at the best of times reverted to parched deserts, wells and river-beds dried, canals shrank, strained to the limit of inadequate supply.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now the hot weather had set in unusually, as it were, malevolently early.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
office-tent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philip Flint sat in his office-tent weary, over-taxed, writing with a sort of dogged persistence.
officialsnounUS /əˈfɪʃəlz/
plural of “official” — a worker who holds or is invested with an office
From this reading People and beasts were dying of disease and starvation, and officials, both European and Indian, fought one of Nature's remedies for over-population with every ounce of human energy.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading People and beasts were dying of disease and starvation, and officials, both European and Indian, fought one of Nature's remedies for over-population with every ounce of human energy.
ouncenounUS /aʊns/
a unit of apothecary weight equal to 480 grains or one twelfth of a troy pound
From this reading People and beasts were dying of disease and starvation, and officials, both European and Indian, fought one of Nature's remedies for over-population with every ounce of human energy.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
over-population
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People and beasts were dying of disease and starvation, and officials, both European and Indian, fought one of Nature's remedies for over-population with every ounce of human energy.
over-taxed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philip Flint sat in his office-tent weary, over-taxed, writing with a sort of dogged persistence.
parchedadjectiveUS /pɑːrtʃt/
dried out by heat or excessive exposure to sunlight
From this reading Areas none too fertile at the best of times reverted to parched deserts, wells and river-beds dried, canals shrank, strained to the limit of inadequate supply.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading People and beasts were dying of disease and starvation, and officials, both European and Indian, fought one of Nature's remedies for over-population with every ounce of human energy.
persistencenounUS /pərˈsɪstəns/
the property of a continuous and connected period of time
From this reading Philip Flint sat in his office-tent weary, over-taxed, writing with a sort of dogged persistence.
Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)
From this reading Philip Flint sat in his office-tent weary, over-taxed, writing with a sort of dogged persistence.
remediesnounUS /ˈremədiz/
plural of “remedy” — act of correcting an error or a fault or an evil
From this reading People and beasts were dying of disease and starvation, and officials, both European and Indian, fought one of Nature's remedies for over-population with every ounce of human energy.
revertedverbUS /rɪˈvɜːrtɪd/
past form of “revert” — go back to a previous state
From this reading Areas none too fertile at the best of times reverted to parched deserts, wells and river-beds dried, canals shrank, strained to the limit of inadequate supply.
river-beds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Areas none too fertile at the best of times reverted to parched deserts, wells and river-beds dried, canals shrank, strained to the limit of inadequate supply.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Philip Flint sat in his office-tent weary, over-taxed, writing with a sort of dogged persistence.
scarcitynounUS /ˈskersɪti/
a small and inadequate amount
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Now the hot weather had set in unusually, as it were, malevolently early.
shrankverbUS /ʃræŋk/
inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading Areas none too fertile at the best of times reverted to parched deserts, wells and river-beds dried, canals shrank, strained to the limit of inadequate supply.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Philip Flint sat in his office-tent weary, over-taxed, writing with a sort of dogged persistence.
the season of growth
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
starvationnounUS /stɑːrˈveɪʃən/
a state of extreme hunger resulting from lack of essential nutrients over a prolonged period
From this reading People and beasts were dying of disease and starvation, and officials, both European and Indian, fought one of Nature's remedies for over-population with every ounce of human energy.
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading Areas none too fertile at the best of times reverted to parched deserts, wells and river-beds dried, canals shrank, strained to the limit of inadequate supply.
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading Areas none too fertile at the best of times reverted to parched deserts, wells and river-beds dried, canals shrank, strained to the limit of inadequate supply.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Areas none too fertile at the best of times reverted to parched deserts, wells and river-beds dried, canals shrank, strained to the limit of inadequate supply.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Areas none too fertile at the best of times reverted to parched deserts, wells and river-beds dried, canals shrank, strained to the limit of inadequate supply.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Areas none too fertile at the best of times reverted to parched deserts, wells and river-beds dried, canals shrank, strained to the limit of inadequate supply.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading Now the hot weather had set in unusually, as it were, malevolently early.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading Philip Flint sat in his office-tent weary, over-taxed, writing with a sort of dogged persistence.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading Now the hot weather had set in unusually, as it were, malevolently early.
wellsnounUS /welz/
prolific English writer best known for his science-fiction novels; he also wrote on contemporary social problems and wrote popular accounts of history and science (1866-1946)
From this reading Areas none too fertile at the best of times reverted to parched deserts, wells and river-beds dried, canals shrank, strained to the limit of inadequate supply.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Now the hot weather had set in unusually, as it were, malevolently early.
in the company of; together with
From this reading People and beasts were dying of disease and starvation, and officials, both European and Indian, fought one of Nature's remedies for over-population with every ounce of human energy.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading A weak monsoon, following on scarcity already serious; consequent failure of autumn and spring crops; and famine, dread word, echoed over the half of India.
the act of creating written works
From this reading Philip Flint sat in his office-tent weary, over-taxed, writing with a sort of dogged persistence.
