adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.
alreadyadverbUS /ɔːlˈredi/
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
amplifiedverbUS /ˈæmpləfaɪd/
inflected form of “amplify” — increase in size, volume or significance
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Twenty men were hard at work in twenty different rooms.
awenounUS /ɑː/
an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration
From this reading Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
blindsnounUS /blaɪndz/
plural of “blind” — people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
bombshellnounUS /ˈbɑːmʃel/
an entertainer who has a sensational effect
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
BuildingsnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋz/
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
closelyadverbUS /ˈkloʊsli/
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
differentadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfərənt/
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading Twenty men were hard at work in twenty different rooms.
docksnounUS /dɑːks/
plural of “dock” — an enclosure in a court of law where the defendant sits during the trial
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
doingverbUS /ˈduːɪŋ/
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.
doubtfullyadverb
in a doubtful manner
From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.
drawnadjectiveUS /drɔːn/
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
emptyverbUS /ˈempti/
make void or empty of contents
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
EnglandnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlənd/
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
EvenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.
factoriesnounUS /ˈfæktəriz/
plural of “factory” — a plant consisting of one or more buildings with facilities for manufacturing
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
feltverbUS /felt/
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
fingersnounUS /ˈfɪŋɡərz/
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
forgesnounUS /ˈfɔːrdʒɪz/
plural of “forge” — furnace consisting of a special hearth where metal is heated before shaping
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
grewverbUS /ɡruː/
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Twenty men were hard at work in twenty different rooms.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
hivenounUS /haɪv/
a teeming multitude
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
idleadjectiveUS /ˈaɪdəl/
not in action or at work
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
imaginativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmædʒənətɪv/
(used of persons or artifacts) marked by independence and creativity in thought or action
From this reading Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Twenty men were hard at work in twenty different rooms.
industrialadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdʌstriəl/
of or relating to or resulting from industry
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
industrynounUS /ˈɪndəstri/
the people or companies engaged in a particular kind of commercial enterprise
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
jubilationnounUS /ˌdʒuːbəˈleɪʃən/
a feeling of extreme joy
From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.
keepverbUS /kiːp/
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
labours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.
leastadjectiveUS /liːst/
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.
mandatesnounUS /ˈmændeɪts/
plural of “mandate” — a document giving an official instruction or command
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
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 If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading Twenty men were hard at work in twenty different rooms.
minesnounUS /maɪnz/
plural of “mine” — excavation in the earth from which ores and minerals are extracted
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
motionlessadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊʃənləs/
not in physical motion
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.
paralyseverb
make powerless and unable to function
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
placenounUS /pleɪs/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
preparedadjectiveUS /priˈperd/
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
railsnounUS /reɪlz/
a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
raisedadjectiveUS /reɪzd/
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
realadjectiveUS /riːl/
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.
regretverbUS /rəˈɡret/
feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.
roomsnounUS /ruːmz/
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading Twenty men were hard at work in twenty different rooms.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
shipsnounUS /ʃɪps/
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
silentadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪlənt/
marked by absence of sound
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
SomeadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.
telegramsnounUS /ˈteləɡræmz/
plural of “telegram” — a message transmitted by telegraph
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/
a special situation
From this reading Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.
thrillnounUS /θrɪl/
the swift release of a store of affective force
From this reading Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.
timorouslyadverb
in a timorous and trepid manner
From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
trainsnounUS /treɪnz/
plural of “train” — public transport provided by a line of railway cars coupled together and drawn by a locomotive
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
TwentynounUS /ˈtwenti/
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading Twenty men were hard at work in twenty different rooms.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.
UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Twenty men were hard at work in twenty different rooms.
WestminsternounUS /ˌwestˈmɪnstər/
a borough of Greater London on the Thames; contains Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
windowsnounUS /ˈwɪndoʊz/
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
workverbUS /wɜːrk/
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Twenty men were hard at work in twenty different rooms.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
