used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The town was in a state of unrest: strikes were in the air, patriotic demonstrations were held.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading The incendiaries were to be “students,” discharged from the factories on account of the strikes.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The town was in a state of unrest: strikes were in the air, patriotic demonstrations were held.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Its outer environs were visited by suspicious-looking characters; these distributed proclamations, mostly of an illiterate nature, in the villages.
announcementnounUS /əˈnaʊnsmənt/
a formal public statement
From this reading The peasants believed the announcement.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The incendiaries were to be “students,” discharged from the factories on account of the strikes.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading The peasants believed the announcement.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Its outer environs were visited by suspicious-looking characters; these distributed proclamations, mostly of an illiterate nature, in the villages.
plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading Its outer environs were visited by suspicious-looking characters; these distributed proclamations, mostly of an illiterate nature, in the villages.
demonstrationsnounUS /ˌdemənˈstreɪʃənz/
plural of “demonstration” — a show or display; the act of presenting something to sight or view
From this reading The town was in a state of unrest: strikes were in the air, patriotic demonstrations were held.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The proclamations threatened incendiarism if the peasants did not revolt.
dischargedadjectiveUS /dɪsˈtʃɑːrdʒd/
having lost your job
From this reading The incendiaries were to be “students,” discharged from the factories on account of the strikes.
distributedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstrɪbjətəd/
spread out or scattered about or divided up
From this reading Its outer environs were visited by suspicious-looking characters; these distributed proclamations, mostly of an illiterate nature, in the villages.
environsnounUS /ɪnˈvaɪrənz/
the area in which something exists or lives
From this reading Its outer environs were visited by suspicious-looking characters; these distributed proclamations, mostly of an illiterate nature, in the villages.
factoriesnounUS /ˈfæktəriz/
plural of “factory” — a plant consisting of one or more buildings with facilities for manufacturing
From this reading The incendiaries were to be “students,” discharged from the factories on account of the strikes.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The incendiaries were to be “students,” discharged from the factories on account of the strikes.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The town was in a state of unrest: strikes were in the air, patriotic demonstrations were held.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The proclamations threatened incendiarism if the peasants did not revolt.
illiterateadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈlɪtərət/
not able to read or write
From this reading Its outer environs were visited by suspicious-looking characters; these distributed proclamations, mostly of an illiterate nature, in the villages.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The town was in a state of unrest: strikes were in the air, patriotic demonstrations were held.
incendiaries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The incendiaries were to be “students,” discharged from the factories on account of the strikes.
incendiarismnoun
malicious burning to destroy property
From this reading The proclamations threatened incendiarism if the peasants did not revolt.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Its outer environs were visited by suspicious-looking characters; these distributed proclamations, mostly of an illiterate nature, in the villages.
mostlyadverbUS /ˈmoʊstli/
in large part; mainly or chiefly
From this reading Its outer environs were visited by suspicious-looking characters; these distributed proclamations, mostly of an illiterate nature, in the villages.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Its outer environs were visited by suspicious-looking characters; these distributed proclamations, mostly of an illiterate nature, in the villages.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The proclamations threatened incendiarism if the peasants did not revolt.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The town was in a state of unrest: strikes were in the air, patriotic demonstrations were held.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The incendiaries were to be “students,” discharged from the factories on account of the strikes.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading Its outer environs were visited by suspicious-looking characters; these distributed proclamations, mostly of an illiterate nature, in the villages.
patrioticadjectiveUS /ˌpeɪtriˈɑːtɪk/
inspired by love for your country
From this reading The town was in a state of unrest: strikes were in the air, patriotic demonstrations were held.
peasantsnounUS /ˈpezənts/
plural of “peasant” — a country person
From this reading The proclamations threatened incendiarism if the peasants did not revolt.
proclamationsnounUS /ˌprɑːkləˈmeɪʃənz/
plural of “proclamation” — a formal public statement
From this reading Its outer environs were visited by suspicious-looking characters; these distributed proclamations, mostly of an illiterate nature, in the villages.
revoltnounUS /rɪˈvoʊlt/
organized opposition to authority; a conflict in which one faction tries to wrest control from another
From this reading The proclamations threatened incendiarism if the peasants did not revolt.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading The town was in a state of unrest: strikes were in the air, patriotic demonstrations were held.
strikesnounUS /straɪks/
plural of “strike” — a group's refusal to work in protest against low pay or bad work conditions
From this reading The town was in a state of unrest: strikes were in the air, patriotic demonstrations were held.
studentsnounUS /ˈstuːdənts/
plural of “student” — a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading The incendiaries were to be “students,” discharged from the factories on account of the strikes.
suspicious-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its outer environs were visited by suspicious-looking characters; these distributed proclamations, mostly of an illiterate nature, in the villages.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The town was in a state of unrest: strikes were in the air, patriotic demonstrations were held.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Its outer environs were visited by suspicious-looking characters; these distributed proclamations, mostly of an illiterate nature, in the villages.
(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered
From this reading The proclamations threatened incendiarism if the peasants did not revolt.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The incendiaries were to be “students,” discharged from the factories on account of the strikes.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The town was in a state of unrest: strikes were in the air, patriotic demonstrations were held.
unrestnounUS /ənˈrest/
a state of agitation or turbulent change or development
From this reading The town was in a state of unrest: strikes were in the air, patriotic demonstrations were held.
villagesnounUS /ˈvɪlədʒəz/
plural of “village” — a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading Its outer environs were visited by suspicious-looking characters; these distributed proclamations, mostly of an illiterate nature, in the villages.
past form of “visit” — go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading Its outer environs were visited by suspicious-looking characters; these distributed proclamations, mostly of an illiterate nature, in the villages.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The town was in a state of unrest: strikes were in the air, patriotic demonstrations were held.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The town was in a state of unrest: strikes were in the air, patriotic demonstrations were held.
