the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An unlooked-for obstacle presented itself.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading He was rising rapidly to the highwater mark in the art of finance.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
barternounUS /ˈbɑːrtər/
an equal exchange
From this reading The cunning Powhatan refused to barter corn for beads and trinkets.
beadsnounUS /biːdz/
several beads threaded together on a string
From this reading The cunning Powhatan refused to barter corn for beads and trinkets.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
make by combining materials and parts
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
commercenounUS /ˈkɑːmərs/
transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services)
From this reading The unwise gifts of Newport had opened his eyes to the possibilities of commerce.
tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears: widely cultivated in America in many varieties; the principal cereal in Mexico and Central and South America since pre-Columbian times
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
cunningadjectiveUS /ˈkʌnɪŋ/
attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness
From this reading The cunning Powhatan refused to barter corn for beads and trinkets.
dependedverbUS /dɪˈpendəd/
past form of “depend” — be contingent upon (something that is elided)
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The unwise gifts of Newport had opened his eyes to the possibilities of commerce.
financenounUS /fəˈnæns/
the commercial activity of providing funds and capital
From this reading He was rising rapidly to the highwater mark in the art of finance.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
giftsnounUS /ɡɪfts/
plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation
From this reading The unwise gifts of Newport had opened his eyes to the possibilities of commerce.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was rising rapidly to the highwater mark in the art of finance.
hewverbUS /hjuː/
make or shape as with an axe
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
highwaternoun
the tide when the water is highest
From this reading He was rising rapidly to the highwater mark in the art of finance.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The unwise gifts of Newport had opened his eyes to the possibilities of commerce.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading An unlooked-for obstacle presented itself.
go away from a place
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading He was rising rapidly to the highwater mark in the art of finance.
the force of workers available
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
NewportnounUS /ˈnuːpɔːrt/
a port city in southeastern Wales
From this reading The unwise gifts of Newport had opened his eyes to the possibilities of commerce.
obstaclenounUS /ˈɑːbstəkəl/
something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted
From this reading An unlooked-for obstacle presented itself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The unwise gifts of Newport had opened his eyes to the possibilities of commerce.
plantedadjectiveUS /ˈplæntɪd/
(used especially of ideas or principles) deeply rooted; firmly fixed or held
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
possibilitiesnounUS /ˌpɑːsəˈbɪlətiz/
plural of “possibility” — a future prospect or potential
From this reading The unwise gifts of Newport had opened his eyes to the possibilities of commerce.
Powhatannoun
Indian chief and founder of the Powhatan confederacy of tribes in eastern Virginia; father of Pocahontas (1550?-1618)
From this reading The cunning Powhatan refused to barter corn for beads and trinkets.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading An unlooked-for obstacle presented itself.
with speed
From this reading He was rising rapidly to the highwater mark in the art of finance.
Ratcliffe's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards
From this reading The cunning Powhatan refused to barter corn for beads and trinkets.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading He was rising rapidly to the highwater mark in the art of finance.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
suppliesnounUS /səˈplaɪz/
plural of “supply” — an amount of something available for use
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
tillingnounUS /ˈtɪlɪŋ/
cultivation of the land in order to raise crops
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
trinketsnounUS /ˈtrɪŋkəts/
plural of “trinket” — cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing
From this reading The cunning Powhatan refused to barter corn for beads and trinkets.
unlooked-foradjective
not anticipated
From this reading An unlooked-for obstacle presented itself.
unwiseadjectiveUS /ənˈwaɪz/
showing or resulting from lack of judgment or wisdom
From this reading The unwise gifts of Newport had opened his eyes to the possibilities of commerce.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading So much time had been lost in the building of Ratcliffe’s house, during which work the men had been forced to leave off the tilling of the garden to hew and build, that little corn had been planted, and as usual the Indian was depended upon for supplies.
