used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
abandonedadjectiveUS /əˈbændənd/
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
(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 project had lain close to his heart and ambition, indeed he had put aside almost all other work and inventions for a while.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The project had lain close to his heart and ambition, indeed he had put aside almost all other work and inventions for a while.
a cherished desire
From this reading The project had lain close to his heart and ambition, indeed he had put aside almost all other work and inventions for a while.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
on or to one side
From this reading The project had lain close to his heart and ambition, indeed he had put aside almost all other work and inventions for a while.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
BessemernounUS /ˈbesəmər/
British inventor and metallurgist who developed the Bessemer process (1813-1898)
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
exhale hard
From this reading It was a sad blow to Edison's hopes.
briquettes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading He had spent nine years of hard work and about two millions of his own money in the great work that had thus been brought to nought through no fault of his.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
centsnounUS /sents/
plural of “cent” — a fractional monetary unit of several countries
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The project had lain close to his heart and ambition, indeed he had put aside almost all other work and inventions for a while.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
the act of discovering something
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
plural of “dollar” — the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 cents
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
Edison'snounUS /ˈedɪsənz/
possessive form of “edison” — United States inventor; inventions included the phonograph and incandescent electric light and the microphone and the Kinetoscope (1847-1931)
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
enterprisenounUS /ˈentərpraɪz/
a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading He had spent nine years of hard work and about two millions of his own money in the great work that had thus been brought to nought through no fault of his.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading He had spent nine years of hard work and about two millions of his own money in the great work that had thus been brought to nought through no fault of his.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had spent nine years of hard work and about two millions of his own money in the great work that had thus been brought to nought through no fault of his.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading The project had lain close to his heart and ambition, indeed he had put aside almost all other work and inventions for a while.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading It was a sad blow to Edison's hopes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading The project had lain close to his heart and ambition, indeed he had put aside almost all other work and inventions for a while.
inventionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈvenʃənz/
plural of “invention” — the creation of something in the mind
From this reading The project had lain close to his heart and ambition, indeed he had put aside almost all other work and inventions for a while.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a sad blow to Edison's hopes.
lainverbUS /leɪn/
inflected form of “lie” — be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading The project had lain close to his heart and ambition, indeed he had put aside almost all other work and inventions for a while.
Mesaba
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
millionsnounUS /ˈmɪljənz/
plural of “million” — the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros
From this reading He had spent nine years of hard work and about two millions of his own money in the great work that had thus been brought to nought through no fault of his.
minesnounUS /maɪnz/
plural of “mine” — excavation in the earth from which ores and minerals are extracted
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
MinnesotanounUS /ˌmɪnɪˈsoʊtə/
a midwestern state
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
a particular point in time
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading He had spent nine years of hard work and about two millions of his own money in the great work that had thus been brought to nought through no fault of his.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading He had spent nine years of hard work and about two millions of his own money in the great work that had thus been brought to nought through no fault of his.
not any; not one
From this reading He had spent nine years of hard work and about two millions of his own money in the great work that had thus been brought to nought through no fault of his.
noughtnoun
a mathematical element that when added to another number yields the same number
From this reading He had spent nine years of hard work and about two millions of his own money in the great work that had thus been brought to nought through no fault of his.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
orenounUS /ɔːr/
a mineral that contains metal that is valuable enough to be mined
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The project had lain close to his heart and ambition, indeed he had put aside almost all other work and inventions for a while.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He had spent nine years of hard work and about two millions of his own money in the great work that had thus been brought to nought through no fault of his.
for each
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
projectverbUS /ˈprɑːdʒekt/
communicate vividly
From this reading The project had lain close to his heart and ambition, indeed he had put aside almost all other work and inventions for a while.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The project had lain close to his heart and ambition, indeed he had put aside almost all other work and inventions for a while.
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
possessing material wealth
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading It was a sad blow to Edison's hopes.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
disposed of to a purchaser
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading He had spent nine years of hard work and about two millions of his own money in the great work that had thus been brought to nought through no fault of his.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had spent nine years of hard work and about two millions of his own money in the great work that had thus been brought to nought through no fault of his.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He had spent nine years of hard work and about two millions of his own money in the great work that had thus been brought to nought through no fault of his.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading He had spent nine years of hard work and about two millions of his own money in the great work that had thus been brought to nought through no fault of his.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was a sad blow to Edison's hopes.
tonnounUS /tʌn/
a United States unit of weight equivalent to 2000 pounds
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He had spent nine years of hard work and about two millions of his own money in the great work that had thus been brought to nought through no fault of his.
precisely as stated
From this reading As this rich ore could be sold for three dollars and fifty cents per ton, as against six dollars and fifty cents per ton for Edison's briquettes, his great enterprise must be abandoned at the very moment of success.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a sad blow to Edison's hopes.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The project had lain close to his heart and ambition, indeed he had put aside almost all other work and inventions for a while.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He had spent nine years of hard work and about two millions of his own money in the great work that had thus been brought to nought through no fault of his.
a late time of life
From this reading The discovery of rich Bessemer ore in the Mesaba range of mountains in Minnesota a few years before had been followed by the opening of the mines there about this time.
