used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Only a man of Gourlay's brute force of character could have kept all the carrying trade of Barbie in his own hands.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Only a man of Gourlay's brute force of character could have kept all the carrying trade of Barbie in his own hands.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Even in these days of railways, nearly every parish has a pair of carriers at the least, journeying once or twice a week to the nearest town.
Barbie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only a man of Gourlay's brute force of character could have kept all the carrying trade of Barbie in his own hands.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The wonder is diminished when we remember that it had been a decaying burgh for thirty years, and that its trade, at the best of times, was of meagre volume.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading The wonder is diminished when we remember that it had been a decaying burgh for thirty years, and that its trade, at the best of times, was of meagre volume.
brutenounUS /bruːt/
a cruelly rapacious person
From this reading Only a man of Gourlay's brute force of character could have kept all the carrying trade of Barbie in his own hands.
bulknounUS /bʌlk/
the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts; the main part
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
burghnoun
a borough in Scotland
From this reading The wonder is diminished when we remember that it had been a decaying burgh for thirty years, and that its trade, at the best of times, was of meagre volume.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
carriernounUS /ˈkæriər/
someone whose employment involves carrying something
From this reading Yet Gourlay was the only carrier in the town.
carriersnounUS /ˈkæriərz/
plural of “carrier” — someone whose employment involves carrying something
From this reading Even in these days of railways, nearly every parish has a pair of carriers at the least, journeying once or twice a week to the nearest town.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Only a man of Gourlay's brute force of character could have kept all the carrying trade of Barbie in his own hands.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading Only a man of Gourlay's brute force of character could have kept all the carrying trade of Barbie in his own hands.
commercenounUS /ˈkɑːmərs/
transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services)
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Only a man of Gourlay's brute force of character could have kept all the carrying trade of Barbie in his own hands.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Even in these days of railways, nearly every parish has a pair of carriers at the least, journeying once or twice a week to the nearest town.
decayingverbUS /dɪˈkeɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “decay” — lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current
From this reading The wonder is diminished when we remember that it had been a decaying burgh for thirty years, and that its trade, at the best of times, was of meagre volume.
diminishedadjectiveUS /dɪˈmɪnɪʃt/
impaired by diminution
From this reading The wonder is diminished when we remember that it had been a decaying burgh for thirty years, and that its trade, at the best of times, was of meagre volume.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
divisible by two
From this reading Even in these days of railways, nearly every parish has a pair of carriers at the least, journeying once or twice a week to the nearest town.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Even in these days of railways, nearly every parish has a pair of carriers at the least, journeying once or twice a week to the nearest town.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The wonder is diminished when we remember that it had been a decaying burgh for thirty years, and that its trade, at the best of times, was of meagre volume.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Only a man of Gourlay's brute force of character could have kept all the carrying trade of Barbie in his own hands.
Gourlay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
Gourlay's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only a man of Gourlay's brute force of character could have kept all the carrying trade of Barbie in his own hands.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The wonder is diminished when we remember that it had been a decaying burgh for thirty years, and that its trade, at the best of times, was of meagre volume.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Only a man of Gourlay's brute force of character could have kept all the carrying trade of Barbie in his own hands.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Even in these days of railways, nearly every parish has a pair of carriers at the least, journeying once or twice a week to the nearest town.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Only a man of Gourlay's brute force of character could have kept all the carrying trade of Barbie in his own hands.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Only a man of Gourlay's brute force of character could have kept all the carrying trade of Barbie in his own hands.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Only a man of Gourlay's brute force of character could have kept all the carrying trade of Barbie in his own hands.
inlandadjectiveUS /ˈɪnlænd/
situated away from an area's coast or border
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The wonder is diminished when we remember that it had been a decaying burgh for thirty years, and that its trade, at the best of times, was of meagre volume.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The wonder is diminished when we remember that it had been a decaying burgh for thirty years, and that its trade, at the best of times, was of meagre volume.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The wonder is diminished when we remember that it had been a decaying burgh for thirty years, and that its trade, at the best of times, was of meagre volume.
journeyingnounUS /ˈdʒɜːrniɪŋ/
the act of traveling from one place to another
From this reading Even in these days of railways, nearly every parish has a pair of carriers at the least, journeying once or twice a week to the nearest town.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Only a man of Gourlay's brute force of character could have kept all the carrying trade of Barbie in his own hands.
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 in these days of railways, nearly every parish has a pair of carriers at the least, journeying once or twice a week to the nearest town.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Only a man of Gourlay's brute force of character could have kept all the carrying trade of Barbie in his own hands.
meagreadjective
deficient in amount or quality or extent
From this reading The wonder is diminished when we remember that it had been a decaying burgh for thirty years, and that its trade, at the best of times, was of meagre volume.
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading Even in these days of railways, nearly every parish has a pair of carriers at the least, journeying once or twice a week to the nearest town.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Even in these days of railways, nearly every parish has a pair of carriers at the least, journeying once or twice a week to the nearest town.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Only a man of Gourlay's brute force of character could have kept all the carrying trade of Barbie in his own hands.
on one occasion
From this reading Even in these days of railways, nearly every parish has a pair of carriers at the least, journeying once or twice a week to the nearest town.
and nothing more
From this reading Only a man of Gourlay's brute force of character could have kept all the carrying trade of Barbie in his own hands.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Even in these days of railways, nearly every parish has a pair of carriers at the least, journeying once or twice a week to the nearest town.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Only a man of Gourlay's brute force of character could have kept all the carrying trade of Barbie in his own hands.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading Even in these days of railways, nearly every parish has a pair of carriers at the least, journeying once or twice a week to the nearest town.
parishnounUS /ˈpærɪʃ/
a local church community
From this reading Even in these days of railways, nearly every parish has a pair of carriers at the least, journeying once or twice a week to the nearest town.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
railwaysnounUS /ˈreɪlweɪz/
plural of “railway” — line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading Even in these days of railways, nearly every parish has a pair of carriers at the least, journeying once or twice a week to the nearest town.
To recall to mind.
From this reading The wonder is diminished when we remember that it had been a decaying burgh for thirty years, and that its trade, at the best of times, was of meagre volume.
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
not in physical motion
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The wonder is diminished when we remember that it had been a decaying burgh for thirty years, and that its trade, at the best of times, was of meagre volume.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Only a man of Gourlay's brute force of character could have kept all the carrying trade of Barbie in his own hands.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Even in these days of railways, nearly every parish has a pair of carriers at the least, journeying once or twice a week to the nearest town.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading The wonder is diminished when we remember that it had been a decaying burgh for thirty years, and that its trade, at the best of times, was of meagre volume.
push forcefully
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading The wonder is diminished when we remember that it had been a decaying burgh for thirty years, and that its trade, at the best of times, was of meagre volume.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Even in these days of railways, nearly every parish has a pair of carriers at the least, journeying once or twice a week to the nearest town.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Even in these days of railways, nearly every parish has a pair of carriers at the least, journeying once or twice a week to the nearest town.
the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services
From this reading Only a man of Gourlay's brute force of character could have kept all the carrying trade of Barbie in his own hands.
two times
From this reading Even in these days of railways, nearly every parish has a pair of carriers at the least, journeying once or twice a week to the nearest town.
the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading The wonder is diminished when we remember that it had been a decaying burgh for thirty years, and that its trade, at the best of times, was of meagre volume.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The wonder is diminished when we remember that it had been a decaying burgh for thirty years, and that its trade, at the best of times, was of meagre volume.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Even in these days of railways, nearly every parish has a pair of carriers at the least, journeying once or twice a week to the nearest town.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
at the time that
From this reading In the days when Gourlay was the great man of Barbie, railways were only beginning to thrust themselves among the quiet hills, and the bulk of inland commerce was still being drawn by horses along the country roads.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading The wonder is diminished when we remember that it had been a decaying burgh for thirty years, and that its trade, at the best of times, was of meagre volume.
a late time of life
From this reading The wonder is diminished when we remember that it had been a decaying burgh for thirty years, and that its trade, at the best of times, was of meagre volume.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet Gourlay was the only carrier in the town.
