used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
architecturaladjectiveUS /ˌɑːrkəˈtektʃərəl/
of or pertaining to the art and science of architecture
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The gardener was as old as her grandmother and the lawns were thin, the rose-bushes and other flowering plants looked as senile as himself.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading But the pine woods on three sides were beautiful and dim and old, and Gita was conscious of a thrill of pride in her inheritance.
blocksnounUS /blɑːks/
plural of “block” — a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
cementedverbUS /səˈmentɪd/
past form of “cement” — make fast as if with cement
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
ColonialadjectiveUS /kəˈloʊniəl/
of or relating to or characteristic of or inhabiting a colony
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
intentionally conceived
From this reading But the pine woods on three sides were beautiful and dim and old, and Gita was conscious of a thrill of pride in her inheritance.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading But the pine woods on three sides were beautiful and dim and old, and Gita was conscious of a thrill of pride in her inheritance.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading Gita stood with her hands in the pockets of her sport skirt surveying the old manor house from the drive.
elementsnounUS /ˈeləmənts/
violent or severe weather (viewed as caused by the action of the four elements)
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
floweringnounUS /ˈflaʊərɪŋ/
the time and process of budding and unfolding of blossoms
From this reading The gardener was as old as her grandmother and the lawns were thin, the rose-bushes and other flowering plants looked as senile as himself.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Gita stood with her hands in the pockets of her sport skirt surveying the old manor house from the drive.
frownedverbUS /fraʊnd/
past form of “frown” — look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
From this reading She frowned, then shrugged her shoulders philosophically.
gabledadjectiveUS /ˈɡeɪbəld/
(of a roof) constructed with a single slope on each side of the ridge supported at the end by a gable or vertical triangular portion of an end wall
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
gardenernounUS /ˈɡɑːrdənər/
someone who takes care of a garden
From this reading The gardener was as old as her grandmother and the lawns were thin, the rose-bushes and other flowering plants looked as senile as himself.
Gitanoun
(Hinduism) the sacred “song of God” composed about 200 BC and incorporated into the Mahabharata (a Sanskrit epic); contains a discussion between Krishna and the Indian hero Arjuna on human nature and the purpose of life
From this reading Gita stood with her hands in the pockets of her sport skirt surveying the old manor house from the drive.
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading The gardener was as old as her grandmother and the lawns were thin, the rose-bushes and other flowering plants looked as senile as himself.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Gita stood with her hands in the pockets of her sport skirt surveying the old manor house from the drive.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Gita stood with her hands in the pockets of her sport skirt surveying the old manor house from the drive.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The gardener was as old as her grandmother and the lawns were thin, the rose-bushes and other flowering plants looked as senile as himself.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Gita stood with her hands in the pockets of her sport skirt surveying the old manor house from the drive.
immuneadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmjuːn/
relating to the condition of immunity
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
imposingadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpoʊzɪŋ/
impressive in appearance
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Gita stood with her hands in the pockets of her sport skirt surveying the old manor house from the drive.
inheritancenounUS /ˌɪnˈherətəns/
hereditary succession to a title or an office or property
From this reading But the pine woods on three sides were beautiful and dim and old, and Gita was conscious of a thrill of pride in her inheritance.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
lawnsnounUS /lɔːnz/
plural of “lawn” — a field of cultivated and mowed grass
From this reading The gardener was as old as her grandmother and the lawns were thin, the rose-bushes and other flowering plants looked as senile as himself.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The gardener was as old as her grandmother and the lawns were thin, the rose-bushes and other flowering plants looked as senile as himself.
manornounUS /ˈmænər/
the mansion of a lord or wealthy person
From this reading Gita stood with her hands in the pockets of her sport skirt surveying the old manor house from the drive.
mansionsnounUS /ˈmæntʃənz/
plural of “mansion” — (astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
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 It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
oblongadjectiveUS /ˈɑːblɔːŋ/
(of a leaf shape) having a somewhat elongated form with approximately parallel sides
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
obviouslyadverbUS /ˈɑːbviəsli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Gita stood with her hands in the pockets of her sport skirt surveying the old manor house from the drive.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Gita stood with her hands in the pockets of her sport skirt surveying the old manor house from the drive.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But the pine woods on three sides were beautiful and dim and old, and Gita was conscious of a thrill of pride in her inheritance.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The gardener was as old as her grandmother and the lawns were thin, the rose-bushes and other flowering plants looked as senile as himself.
philosophicallyadverbUS /ˌfɪləˈsɑːfɪkəli/
in a philosophic manner
From this reading She frowned, then shrugged her shoulders philosophically.
pinenounUS /paɪn/
a coniferous tree
From this reading But the pine woods on three sides were beautiful and dim and old, and Gita was conscious of a thrill of pride in her inheritance.
plantsnounUS /plænts/
plural of “plant” — buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading The gardener was as old as her grandmother and the lawns were thin, the rose-bushes and other flowering plants looked as senile as himself.
plural of “pocket” — a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading Gita stood with her hands in the pockets of her sport skirt surveying the old manor house from the drive.
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading But the pine woods on three sides were beautiful and dim and old, and Gita was conscious of a thrill of pride in her inheritance.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
rose-bushes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gardener was as old as her grandmother and the lawns were thin, the rose-bushes and other flowering plants looked as senile as himself.
senileadjectiveUS /ˈsiːnaɪl/
mentally or physically infirm with age
From this reading The gardener was as old as her grandmother and the lawns were thin, the rose-bushes and other flowering plants looked as senile as himself.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She frowned, then shrugged her shoulders philosophically.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading She frowned, then shrugged her shoulders philosophically.
shruggedverbUS /ʃrʌɡd/
inflected form of “shrug” — raise one's shoulders to indicate indifference or resignation
From this reading She frowned, then shrugged her shoulders philosophically.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading But the pine woods on three sides were beautiful and dim and old, and Gita was conscious of a thrill of pride in her inheritance.
skirtnounUS /skɜːrt/
cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading Gita stood with her hands in the pockets of her sport skirt surveying the old manor house from the drive.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition
From this reading Gita stood with her hands in the pockets of her sport skirt surveying the old manor house from the drive.
make square
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Gita stood with her hands in the pockets of her sport skirt surveying the old manor house from the drive.
surmountedadjectiveUS /sərˈmaʊntɪd/
having something on top
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
surveyingnounUS /sərˈveɪɪŋ/
the practice of measuring angles and distances on the ground so that they can be accurately plotted on a map
From this reading Gita stood with her hands in the pockets of her sport skirt surveying the old manor house from the drive.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Gita stood with her hands in the pockets of her sport skirt surveying the old manor house from the drive.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading She frowned, then shrugged her shoulders philosophically.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading The gardener was as old as her grandmother and the lawns were thin, the rose-bushes and other flowering plants looked as senile as himself.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading But the pine woods on three sides were beautiful and dim and old, and Gita was conscious of a thrill of pride in her inheritance.
thrillnounUS /θrɪl/
the swift release of a store of affective force
From this reading But the pine woods on three sides were beautiful and dim and old, and Gita was conscious of a thrill of pride in her inheritance.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The gardener was as old as her grandmother and the lawns were thin, the rose-bushes and other flowering plants looked as senile as himself.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Gita stood with her hands in the pockets of her sport skirt surveying the old manor house from the drive.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It was built of oblong blocks of stone obviously cemented together in the fashion of so many Northern Colonial mansions: a great square box of a house, surmounted by a gabled roof; without architectural grace but solid and imposing, and immune to the elements and time.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading But the pine woods on three sides were beautiful and dim and old, and Gita was conscious of a thrill of pride in her inheritance.
