used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Built of square blocks of a coarse and unpolished but durable marble, set with cement, there had been little attempt at architectural display on the part of the builders.
acrenounUS /ˈeɪkər/
a unit of area (4840 square yards) used in English-speaking countries
From this reading The palace covered nearly an acre, having several wings which had been added at different periods.
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading The palace covered nearly an acre, having several wings which had been added at different periods.
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading When I consider that it existed in the heart of an isolated, practically unknown wilderness, I admit it was something to win approval.
plural of “age” — how long something has existed
From this reading It must have been centuries old, for the mark of ages was upon it everywhere, as it was upon most of the buildings of Itza.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When I consider that it existed in the heart of an isolated, practically unknown wilderness, I admit it was something to win approval.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Built of square blocks of a coarse and unpolished but durable marble, set with cement, there had been little attempt at architectural display on the part of the builders.
approvalnounUS /əˈpruːvəl/
the formal act of approving
From this reading When I consider that it existed in the heart of an isolated, practically unknown wilderness, I admit it was something to win approval.
architecturaladjectiveUS /ˌɑːrkəˈtektʃərəl/
of or pertaining to the art and science of architecture
From this reading Built of square blocks of a coarse and unpolished but durable marble, set with cement, there had been little attempt at architectural display on the part of the builders.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As compared with the palaces of civilized nations I cannot say much in favor of Chaka’s royal dwelling.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Built of square blocks of a coarse and unpolished but durable marble, set with cement, there had been little attempt at architectural display on the part of the builders.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Built of square blocks of a coarse and unpolished but durable marble, set with cement, there had been little attempt at architectural display on the part of the builders.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It must have been centuries old, for the mark of ages was upon it everywhere, as it was upon most of the buildings of Itza.
blocksnounUS /blɑːks/
plural of “block” — a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading Built of square blocks of a coarse and unpolished but durable marble, set with cement, there had been little attempt at architectural display on the part of the builders.
buildersnounUS /ˈbɪldərz/
plural of “builder” — a substance added to soaps or detergents to increase their cleansing action
From this reading Built of square blocks of a coarse and unpolished but durable marble, set with cement, there had been little attempt at architectural display on the part of the builders.
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading It must have been centuries old, for the mark of ages was upon it everywhere, as it was upon most of the buildings of Itza.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading Built of square blocks of a coarse and unpolished but durable marble, set with cement, there had been little attempt at architectural display on the part of the builders.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Built of square blocks of a coarse and unpolished but durable marble, set with cement, there had been little attempt at architectural display on the part of the builders.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As compared with the palaces of civilized nations I cannot say much in favor of Chaka’s royal dwelling.
cementnounUS /səˈment/
concrete pavement is sometimes referred to as cement
From this reading Built of square blocks of a coarse and unpolished but durable marble, set with cement, there had been little attempt at architectural display on the part of the builders.
centuriesnounUS /ˈsentʃəriz/
plural of “century” — a period of 100 years
From this reading It must have been centuries old, for the mark of ages was upon it everywhere, as it was upon most of the buildings of Itza.
Chaka's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As compared with the palaces of civilized nations I cannot say much in favor of Chaka’s royal dwelling.
civilizedadjectiveUS /ˈsɪvəlaɪzd/
having a high state of culture and development both social and technological
From this reading As compared with the palaces of civilized nations I cannot say much in favor of Chaka’s royal dwelling.
coarseadjectiveUS /kɔːrs/
of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles
From this reading Built of square blocks of a coarse and unpolished but durable marble, set with cement, there had been little attempt at architectural display on the part of the builders.
comparedverbUS /kəmˈperd/
past form of “compare” — examine and note the similarities or differences of
From this reading As compared with the palaces of civilized nations I cannot say much in favor of Chaka’s royal dwelling.
deem to be
From this reading When I consider that it existed in the heart of an isolated, practically unknown wilderness, I admit it was something to win approval.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading The palace covered nearly an acre, having several wings which had been added at different periods.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading The palace covered nearly an acre, having several wings which had been added at different periods.
displaynounUS /dɪˈspleɪ/
something intended to communicate a particular impression
From this reading Built of square blocks of a coarse and unpolished but durable marble, set with cement, there had been little attempt at architectural display on the part of the builders.
durableadjectiveUS /ˈdʊrəbəl/
existing for a long time
From this reading Built of square blocks of a coarse and unpolished but durable marble, set with cement, there had been little attempt at architectural display on the part of the builders.
dwellingnounUS /ˈdwelɪŋ/
housing that someone is living in
From this reading As compared with the palaces of civilized nations I cannot say much in favor of Chaka’s royal dwelling.
to or in any or all places
From this reading It must have been centuries old, for the mark of ages was upon it everywhere, as it was upon most of the buildings of Itza.
existedverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪstəd/
past form of “exist” — have an existence, be extant
From this reading When I consider that it existed in the heart of an isolated, practically unknown wilderness, I admit it was something to win approval.
promote over another
From this reading As compared with the palaces of civilized nations I cannot say much in favor of Chaka’s royal dwelling.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It must have been centuries old, for the mark of ages was upon it everywhere, as it was upon most of the buildings of Itza.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Built of square blocks of a coarse and unpolished but durable marble, set with cement, there had been little attempt at architectural display on the part of the builders.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It must have been centuries old, for the mark of ages was upon it everywhere, as it was upon most of the buildings of Itza.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The palace covered nearly an acre, having several wings which had been added at different periods.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading When I consider that it existed in the heart of an isolated, practically unknown wilderness, I admit it was something to win approval.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As compared with the palaces of civilized nations I cannot say much in favor of Chaka’s royal dwelling.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As compared with the palaces of civilized nations I cannot say much in favor of Chaka’s royal dwelling.
isolatedadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsəleɪtəd/
not close together in time
From this reading When I consider that it existed in the heart of an isolated, practically unknown wilderness, I admit it was something to win approval.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When I consider that it existed in the heart of an isolated, practically unknown wilderness, I admit it was something to win approval.
Itza
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been centuries old, for the mark of ages was upon it everywhere, as it was upon most of the buildings of Itza.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Built of square blocks of a coarse and unpolished but durable marble, set with cement, there had been little attempt at architectural display on the part of the builders.
a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
From this reading Built of square blocks of a coarse and unpolished but durable marble, set with cement, there had been little attempt at architectural display on the part of the builders.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading It must have been centuries old, for the mark of ages was upon it everywhere, as it was upon most of the buildings of Itza.
used to form the superlative
From this reading It must have been centuries old, for the mark of ages was upon it everywhere, as it was upon most of the buildings of Itza.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading As compared with the palaces of civilized nations I cannot say much in favor of Chaka’s royal dwelling.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It must have been centuries old, for the mark of ages was upon it everywhere, as it was upon most of the buildings of Itza.
nationsnounUS /ˈneɪʃənz/
plural of “nation” — a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading As compared with the palaces of civilized nations I cannot say much in favor of Chaka’s royal dwelling.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The palace covered nearly an acre, having several wings which had been added at different periods.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As compared with the palaces of civilized nations I cannot say much in favor of Chaka’s royal dwelling.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It must have been centuries old, for the mark of ages was upon it everywhere, as it was upon most of the buildings of Itza.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Built of square blocks of a coarse and unpolished but durable marble, set with cement, there had been little attempt at architectural display on the part of the builders.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading The palace covered nearly an acre, having several wings which had been added at different periods.
palacesnounUS /ˈpæləsəz/
plural of “palace” — a large and stately mansion
From this reading As compared with the palaces of civilized nations I cannot say much in favor of Chaka’s royal dwelling.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Built of square blocks of a coarse and unpolished but durable marble, set with cement, there had been little attempt at architectural display on the part of the builders.
periodsnounUS /ˈpɪriədz/
plural of “period” — an amount of time
From this reading The palace covered nearly an acre, having several wings which had been added at different periods.
practicallyadverbUS /ˈpræktɪkli/
almost; nearly
From this reading When I consider that it existed in the heart of an isolated, practically unknown wilderness, I admit it was something to win approval.
royaladjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading As compared with the palaces of civilized nations I cannot say much in favor of Chaka’s royal dwelling.
express in words
From this reading As compared with the palaces of civilized nations I cannot say much in favor of Chaka’s royal dwelling.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Built of square blocks of a coarse and unpolished but durable marble, set with cement, there had been little attempt at architectural display on the part of the builders.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading The palace covered nearly an acre, having several wings which had been added at different periods.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading When I consider that it existed in the heart of an isolated, practically unknown wilderness, I admit it was something to win approval.
make square
From this reading Built of square blocks of a coarse and unpolished but durable marble, set with cement, there had been little attempt at architectural display on the part of the builders.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When I consider that it existed in the heart of an isolated, practically unknown wilderness, I admit it was something to win approval.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As compared with the palaces of civilized nations I cannot say much in favor of Chaka’s royal dwelling.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Built of square blocks of a coarse and unpolished but durable marble, set with cement, there had been little attempt at architectural display on the part of the builders.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When I consider that it existed in the heart of an isolated, practically unknown wilderness, I admit it was something to win approval.
not known
From this reading When I consider that it existed in the heart of an isolated, practically unknown wilderness, I admit it was something to win approval.
unpolishedadjective
not carefully reworked or perfected or made smooth by polishing
From this reading Built of square blocks of a coarse and unpolished but durable marble, set with cement, there had been little attempt at architectural display on the part of the builders.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It must have been centuries old, for the mark of ages was upon it everywhere, as it was upon most of the buildings of Itza.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When I consider that it existed in the heart of an isolated, practically unknown wilderness, I admit it was something to win approval.
at the time that
From this reading When I consider that it existed in the heart of an isolated, practically unknown wilderness, I admit it was something to win approval.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The palace covered nearly an acre, having several wings which had been added at different periods.
wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
(politics) a state of disfavor
From this reading When I consider that it existed in the heart of an isolated, practically unknown wilderness, I admit it was something to win approval.
be the winner in a contest or competition; be victorious
From this reading When I consider that it existed in the heart of an isolated, practically unknown wilderness, I admit it was something to win approval.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading The palace covered nearly an acre, having several wings which had been added at different periods.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As compared with the palaces of civilized nations I cannot say much in favor of Chaka’s royal dwelling.
