used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A VIGOROUS ASSAULT.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was nothing attractive about the place.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
ambitiousadjectiveUS /æmˈbɪʃəs/
having a strong desire for success or achievement
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It might be described as a city of sand and sawdust, for you never succeeded in getting out of the one without finding yourself floundering through the other.
ASSAULTnounUS /əˈsɔːlt/
close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
From this reading A VIGOROUS ASSAULT.
adopted in order to deceive
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
attractiveadjectiveUS /əˈtræktɪv/
pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm
From this reading There was nothing attractive about the place.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It might be described as a city of sand and sawdust, for you never succeeded in getting out of the one without finding yourself floundering through the other.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
characterizingverbUS /ˈkerəktəraɪzɪŋ/
-ing form of “characterize” — describe or portray the character or the qualities or peculiarities of
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
represented in words especially with sharpness and detail
From this reading It might be described as a city of sand and sawdust, for you never succeeded in getting out of the one without finding yourself floundering through the other.
lying toward or situated in the east
From this reading The home of Patrick Morain was in one of the many small lumbering towns that line the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
(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 It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading It might be described as a city of sand and sawdust, for you never succeeded in getting out of the one without finding yourself floundering through the other.
flounderingverbUS /ˈflaʊndərɪŋ/
-ing form of “flounder” — walk with great difficulty
From this reading It might be described as a city of sand and sawdust, for you never succeeded in getting out of the one without finding yourself floundering through the other.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading It might be described as a city of sand and sawdust, for you never succeeded in getting out of the one without finding yourself floundering through the other.
gracesnounUS /ˈɡreɪsɪz/
plural of “grace” — (Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The home of Patrick Morain was in one of the many small lumbering towns that line the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The home of Patrick Morain was in one of the many small lumbering towns that line the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading The home of Patrick Morain was in one of the many small lumbering towns that line the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading The home of Patrick Morain was in one of the many small lumbering towns that line the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
lumberingnounUS /ˈlʌmbərɪŋ/
the trade of cutting or preparing or selling timber
From this reading The home of Patrick Morain was in one of the many small lumbering towns that line the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The home of Patrick Morain was in one of the many small lumbering towns that line the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
the time between one event, process, or period and another
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
MichigannounUS /ˈmɪʃɪɡən/
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading The home of Patrick Morain was in one of the many small lumbering towns that line the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It might be described as a city of sand and sawdust, for you never succeeded in getting out of the one without finding yourself floundering through the other.
Morain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The home of Patrick Morain was in one of the many small lumbering towns that line the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading It might be described as a city of sand and sawdust, for you never succeeded in getting out of the one without finding yourself floundering through the other.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was nothing attractive about the place.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The home of Patrick Morain was in one of the many small lumbering towns that line the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The home of Patrick Morain was in one of the many small lumbering towns that line the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading It might be described as a city of sand and sawdust, for you never succeeded in getting out of the one without finding yourself floundering through the other.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It might be described as a city of sand and sawdust, for you never succeeded in getting out of the one without finding yourself floundering through the other.
PatricknounUS /ˈpætrɪk/
Apostle and patron saint of Ireland; an English missionary to Ireland in the 5th century
From this reading The home of Patrick Morain was in one of the many small lumbering towns that line the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
pioneernounUS /ˌpaɪəˈnɪr/
someone who helps to open up a new line of research or technology or art
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading There was nothing attractive about the place.
on the contrary
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading It might be described as a city of sand and sawdust, for you never succeeded in getting out of the one without finding yourself floundering through the other.
sawdustnounUS /ˈsɔːdʌst/
fine particles of wood made by sawing wood
From this reading It might be described as a city of sand and sawdust, for you never succeeded in getting out of the one without finding yourself floundering through the other.
only a very short time before
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading The home of Patrick Morain was in one of the many small lumbering towns that line the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The home of Patrick Morain was in one of the many small lumbering towns that line the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading It might be described as a city of sand and sawdust, for you never succeeded in getting out of the one without finding yourself floundering through the other.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The home of Patrick Morain was in one of the many small lumbering towns that line the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The home of Patrick Morain was in one of the many small lumbering towns that line the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was nothing attractive about the place.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading It might be described as a city of sand and sawdust, for you never succeeded in getting out of the one without finding yourself floundering through the other.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
townsnounUS /taʊnz/
plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The home of Patrick Morain was in one of the many small lumbering towns that line the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
VIGOROUSadjectiveUS /ˈvɪɡərəs/
characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity
From this reading A VIGOROUS ASSAULT.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The home of Patrick Morain was in one of the many small lumbering towns that line the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was--or rather is, for it has grown very little in the meantime--a very small town, scarcely more than a village, in fact; but, with the ambitious energy characterizing the pioneer, it had already assumed the name and some of the graces of a city.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It might be described as a city of sand and sawdust, for you never succeeded in getting out of the one without finding yourself floundering through the other.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading It might be described as a city of sand and sawdust, for you never succeeded in getting out of the one without finding yourself floundering through the other.
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading It might be described as a city of sand and sawdust, for you never succeeded in getting out of the one without finding yourself floundering through the other.
