used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They sat by a window in a small dining-room, overlooking pleasant gardens, and the Elbe, flowing just beyond the stretch of grass and flowers.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading THE THUNDERBOLT John and Mr. Anson ate breakfast not long after daylight, as they expected to take an early train for Prague.
anew
From this reading The weather of the fickle valley had decided once again to be good.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE THUNDERBOLT John and Mr. Anson ate breakfast not long after daylight, as they expected to take an early train for Prague.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE THUNDERBOLT John and Mr. Anson ate breakfast not long after daylight, as they expected to take an early train for Prague.
Anson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE THUNDERBOLT John and Mr. Anson ate breakfast not long after daylight, as they expected to take an early train for Prague.
anticipationnounUS /ænˌtɪsəˈpeɪʃən/
an expectation
From this reading John was reluctant to leave it, but he had the anticipation, too, of fresh conquests, of new cities to be seen and explored.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE THUNDERBOLT John and Mr. Anson ate breakfast not long after daylight, as they expected to take an early train for Prague.
goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment
From this reading THE THUNDERBOLT John and Mr. Anson ate breakfast not long after daylight, as they expected to take an early train for Prague.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The weather of the fickle valley had decided once again to be good.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading They sat by a window in a small dining-room, overlooking pleasant gardens, and the Elbe, flowing just beyond the stretch of grass and flowers.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading THE THUNDERBOLT John and Mr. Anson ate breakfast not long after daylight, as they expected to take an early train for Prague.
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading The young sunshine gilded the surface of the river and touched the gray buildings with gold.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading John was reluctant to leave it, but he had the anticipation, too, of fresh conquests, of new cities to be seen and explored.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They sat by a window in a small dining-room, overlooking pleasant gardens, and the Elbe, flowing just beyond the stretch of grass and flowers.
citiesnounUS /ˈsɪtiz/
plural of “city” — a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading John was reluctant to leave it, but he had the anticipation, too, of fresh conquests, of new cities to be seen and explored.
conquestsnounUS /ˈkɑːnkwests/
plural of “conquest” — the act of conquering
From this reading John was reluctant to leave it, but he had the anticipation, too, of fresh conquests, of new cities to be seen and explored.
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading THE THUNDERBOLT John and Mr. Anson ate breakfast not long after daylight, as they expected to take an early train for Prague.
recognizable; marked
From this reading The weather of the fickle valley had decided once again to be good.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading They sat by a window in a small dining-room, overlooking pleasant gardens, and the Elbe, flowing just beyond the stretch of grass and flowers.
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 THE THUNDERBOLT John and Mr. Anson ate breakfast not long after daylight, as they expected to take an early train for Prague.
ElbenounUS /elb/
a river in central Europe that arises in northwestern Czechoslovakia and flows northward through Germany to empty into the North Sea
From this reading They sat by a window in a small dining-room, overlooking pleasant gardens, and the Elbe, flowing just beyond the stretch of grass and flowers.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading THE THUNDERBOLT John and Mr. Anson ate breakfast not long after daylight, as they expected to take an early train for Prague.
exploredverbUS /ɪkˈsplɔːrd/
past form of “explore” — inquire into
From this reading John was reluctant to leave it, but he had the anticipation, too, of fresh conquests, of new cities to be seen and explored.
fickleadjectiveUS /ˈfɪkəl/
marked by erratic changeableness in affections or attachments
From this reading The weather of the fickle valley had decided once again to be good.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading They sat by a window in a small dining-room, overlooking pleasant gardens, and the Elbe, flowing just beyond the stretch of grass and flowers.
flowingnounUS /ˈfloʊɪŋ/
the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading They sat by a window in a small dining-room, overlooking pleasant gardens, and the Elbe, flowing just beyond the stretch of grass and flowers.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE THUNDERBOLT John and Mr. Anson ate breakfast not long after daylight, as they expected to take an early train for Prague.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading John was reluctant to leave it, but he had the anticipation, too, of fresh conquests, of new cities to be seen and explored.
plural of “garden” — a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading They sat by a window in a small dining-room, overlooking pleasant gardens, and the Elbe, flowing just beyond the stretch of grass and flowers.
gildedadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪldɪd/
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading The young sunshine gilded the surface of the river and touched the gray buildings with gold.
coins made of gold
From this reading The young sunshine gilded the surface of the river and touched the gray buildings with gold.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The weather of the fickle valley had decided once again to be good.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading They sat by a window in a small dining-room, overlooking pleasant gardens, and the Elbe, flowing just beyond the stretch of grass and flowers.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading The young sunshine gilded the surface of the river and touched the gray buildings with gold.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The weather of the fickle valley had decided once again to be good.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading John was reluctant to leave it, but he had the anticipation, too, of fresh conquests, of new cities to be seen and explored.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They sat by a window in a small dining-room, overlooking pleasant gardens, and the Elbe, flowing just beyond the stretch of grass and flowers.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading John was reluctant to leave it, but he had the anticipation, too, of fresh conquests, of new cities to be seen and explored.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading THE THUNDERBOLT John and Mr. Anson ate breakfast not long after daylight, as they expected to take an early train for Prague.
and nothing more
From this reading They sat by a window in a small dining-room, overlooking pleasant gardens, and the Elbe, flowing just beyond the stretch of grass and flowers.
go away from a place
From this reading John was reluctant to leave it, but he had the anticipation, too, of fresh conquests, of new cities to be seen and explored.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading THE THUNDERBOLT John and Mr. Anson ate breakfast not long after daylight, as they expected to take an early train for Prague.
a form of address for a man
From this reading THE THUNDERBOLT John and Mr. Anson ate breakfast not long after daylight, as they expected to take an early train for Prague.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading John was reluctant to leave it, but he had the anticipation, too, of fresh conquests, of new cities to be seen and explored.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE THUNDERBOLT John and Mr. Anson ate breakfast not long after daylight, as they expected to take an early train for Prague.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They sat by a window in a small dining-room, overlooking pleasant gardens, and the Elbe, flowing just beyond the stretch of grass and flowers.
on one occasion
From this reading The weather of the fickle valley had decided once again to be good.
overlookingadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərlʊkɪŋ/
used of a height or viewpoint
From this reading They sat by a window in a small dining-room, overlooking pleasant gardens, and the Elbe, flowing just beyond the stretch of grass and flowers.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading They sat by a window in a small dining-room, overlooking pleasant gardens, and the Elbe, flowing just beyond the stretch of grass and flowers.
PraguenounUS /prɑːɡ/
the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic in the western part of the country; a cultural and commercial center since the 14th century
From this reading THE THUNDERBOLT John and Mr. Anson ate breakfast not long after daylight, as they expected to take an early train for Prague.
reluctantadjectiveUS /rɪˈlʌktənt/
unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom
From this reading John was reluctant to leave it, but he had the anticipation, too, of fresh conquests, of new cities to be seen and explored.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The young sunshine gilded the surface of the river and touched the gray buildings with gold.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading They sat by a window in a small dining-room, overlooking pleasant gardens, and the Elbe, flowing just beyond the stretch of grass and flowers.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading John was reluctant to leave it, but he had the anticipation, too, of fresh conquests, of new cities to be seen and explored.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They sat by a window in a small dining-room, overlooking pleasant gardens, and the Elbe, flowing just beyond the stretch of grass and flowers.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading They sat by a window in a small dining-room, overlooking pleasant gardens, and the Elbe, flowing just beyond the stretch of grass and flowers.
the rays of the sun
From this reading The young sunshine gilded the surface of the river and touched the gray buildings with gold.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading The young sunshine gilded the surface of the river and touched the gray buildings with gold.
carry out
From this reading THE THUNDERBOLT John and Mr. Anson ate breakfast not long after daylight, as they expected to take an early train for Prague.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE THUNDERBOLT John and Mr. Anson ate breakfast not long after daylight, as they expected to take an early train for Prague.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE THUNDERBOLT John and Mr. Anson ate breakfast not long after daylight, as they expected to take an early train for Prague.
THUNDERBOLTnounUS /ˈθʌndərbɔːlt/
a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
From this reading THE THUNDERBOLT John and Mr. Anson ate breakfast not long after daylight, as they expected to take an early train for Prague.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE THUNDERBOLT John and Mr. Anson ate breakfast not long after daylight, as they expected to take an early train for Prague.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading John was reluctant to leave it, but he had the anticipation, too, of fresh conquests, of new cities to be seen and explored.
having come into contact
From this reading The young sunshine gilded the surface of the river and touched the gray buildings with gold.
create by training and teaching
From this reading THE THUNDERBOLT John and Mr. Anson ate breakfast not long after daylight, as they expected to take an early train for Prague.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading The weather of the fickle valley had decided once again to be good.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading John was reluctant to leave it, but he had the anticipation, too, of fresh conquests, of new cities to be seen and explored.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading The weather of the fickle valley had decided once again to be good.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading They sat by a window in a small dining-room, overlooking pleasant gardens, and the Elbe, flowing just beyond the stretch of grass and flowers.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The young sunshine gilded the surface of the river and touched the gray buildings with gold.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The young sunshine gilded the surface of the river and touched the gray buildings with gold.
