used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We were a small people, and had not then been blessed by separation; but we were, I think, peculiarly intelligent.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading It is above thirty years since I commenced my agitation in Britannula.
agitationnounUS /ˌædʒəˈteɪʃən/
a mental state of extreme emotional disturbance
From this reading It is above thirty years since I commenced my agitation in Britannula.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We were a small people, and had not then been blessed by separation; but we were, I think, peculiarly intelligent.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading We were the very cream, as it were, that had been skimmed from the milk-pail of the people of a wider colony, themselves gifted with more than ordinary intelligence.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading We were a small people, and had not then been blessed by separation; but we were, I think, peculiarly intelligent.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading I will now begin my tale.
highly favored or fortunate (as e.g. by divine grace)
From this reading We were a small people, and had not then been blessed by separation; but we were, I think, peculiarly intelligent.
Britannula
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is above thirty years since I commenced my agitation in Britannula.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading We were a small people, and had not then been blessed by separation; but we were, I think, peculiarly intelligent.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading We were a small people, and had not then been blessed by separation; but we were, I think, peculiarly intelligent.
colonynounUS /ˈkɑːləni/
a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading We were the very cream, as it were, that had been skimmed from the milk-pail of the people of a wider colony, themselves gifted with more than ordinary intelligence.
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading It is above thirty years since I commenced my agitation in Britannula.
CRASWELLER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GABRIEL CRASWELLER.
creamnounUS /kriːm/
the best people or things in a group
From this reading We were the very cream, as it were, that had been skimmed from the milk-pail of the people of a wider colony, themselves gifted with more than ordinary intelligence.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We were the very cream, as it were, that had been skimmed from the milk-pail of the people of a wider colony, themselves gifted with more than ordinary intelligence.
GABRIELnounUS /ˈɡeɪbriəl/
(Bible) the archangel who was the messenger of God
From this reading GABRIEL CRASWELLER.
giftedadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪftəd/
endowed with talent or talents
From this reading We were the very cream, as it were, that had been skimmed from the milk-pail of the people of a wider colony, themselves gifted with more than ordinary intelligence.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We were a small people, and had not then been blessed by separation; but we were, I think, peculiarly intelligent.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I will now begin my tale.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It is above thirty years since I commenced my agitation in Britannula.
the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
From this reading We were the very cream, as it were, that had been skimmed from the milk-pail of the people of a wider colony, themselves gifted with more than ordinary intelligence.
intelligentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtelədʒənt/
having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree
From this reading We were a small people, and had not then been blessed by separation; but we were, I think, peculiarly intelligent.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is above thirty years since I commenced my agitation in Britannula.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is above thirty years since I commenced my agitation in Britannula.
milk-pail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were the very cream, as it were, that had been skimmed from the milk-pail of the people of a wider colony, themselves gifted with more than ordinary intelligence.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading We were the very cream, as it were, that had been skimmed from the milk-pail of the people of a wider colony, themselves gifted with more than ordinary intelligence.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I will now begin my tale.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading We were a small people, and had not then been blessed by separation; but we were, I think, peculiarly intelligent.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I will now begin my tale.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We were the very cream, as it were, that had been skimmed from the milk-pail of the people of a wider colony, themselves gifted with more than ordinary intelligence.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading We were the very cream, as it were, that had been skimmed from the milk-pail of the people of a wider colony, themselves gifted with more than ordinary intelligence.
peculiarlyadverbUS /pɪˈkjuːljərli/
uniquely or characteristically
From this reading We were a small people, and had not then been blessed by separation; but we were, I think, peculiarly intelligent.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading We were a small people, and had not then been blessed by separation; but we were, I think, peculiarly intelligent.
separationnounUS /ˌsepərˈeɪʃən/
the state of lacking unity
From this reading We were a small people, and had not then been blessed by separation; but we were, I think, peculiarly intelligent.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading It is above thirty years since I commenced my agitation in Britannula.
skimmedadjectiveUS /skɪmd/
used of milk and milk products from which the cream has been removed
From this reading We were the very cream, as it were, that had been skimmed from the milk-pail of the people of a wider colony, themselves gifted with more than ordinary intelligence.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading We were a small people, and had not then been blessed by separation; but we were, I think, peculiarly intelligent.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading I will now begin my tale.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading We were the very cream, as it were, that had been skimmed from the milk-pail of the people of a wider colony, themselves gifted with more than ordinary intelligence.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We were the very cream, as it were, that had been skimmed from the milk-pail of the people of a wider colony, themselves gifted with more than ordinary intelligence.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We were the very cream, as it were, that had been skimmed from the milk-pail of the people of a wider colony, themselves gifted with more than ordinary intelligence.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading We were the very cream, as it were, that had been skimmed from the milk-pail of the people of a wider colony, themselves gifted with more than ordinary intelligence.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading We were a small people, and had not then been blessed by separation; but we were, I think, peculiarly intelligent.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading We were a small people, and had not then been blessed by separation; but we were, I think, peculiarly intelligent.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading It is above thirty years since I commenced my agitation in Britannula.
precisely as stated
From this reading We were the very cream, as it were, that had been skimmed from the milk-pail of the people of a wider colony, themselves gifted with more than ordinary intelligence.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We were a small people, and had not then been blessed by separation; but we were, I think, peculiarly intelligent.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were a small people, and had not then been blessed by separation; but we were, I think, peculiarly intelligent.
wideradjectiveUS /ˈwaɪdər/
comparative of “wide” — having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading We were the very cream, as it were, that had been skimmed from the milk-pail of the people of a wider colony, themselves gifted with more than ordinary intelligence.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading I will now begin my tale.
in the company of; together with
From this reading We were the very cream, as it were, that had been skimmed from the milk-pail of the people of a wider colony, themselves gifted with more than ordinary intelligence.
a late time of life
From this reading It is above thirty years since I commenced my agitation in Britannula.
