used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS Time rolled on, and the lighthouse at length began to grow.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Thus, foot by foot it grew, and soon began to tower above its foundation.
ACCIDENTSnounUS /ˈæksədənts/
plural of “accident” — an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS Time rolled on, and the lighthouse at length began to grow.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It did not rise slowly, as does an ordinary building.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS Time rolled on, and the lighthouse at length began to grow.
Arbroath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It did not rise slowly, as does an ordinary building.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS Time rolled on, and the lighthouse at length began to grow.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS Time rolled on, and the lighthouse at length began to grow.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading It did not rise slowly, as does an ordinary building.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading From the foundation upwards for thirty feet it was built solid.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Thus, foot by foot it grew, and soon began to tower above its foundation.
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS Time rolled on, and the lighthouse at length began to grow.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
coursesnounUS /ˈkɔːrsəz/
plural of “course” — education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It did not rise slowly, as does an ordinary building.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It did not rise slowly, as does an ordinary building.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading From the foundation upwards for thirty feet it was built solid.
fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtəd/
being the right size and shape to fit as desired
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Thus, foot by foot it grew, and soon began to tower above its foundation.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading From the foundation upwards for thirty feet it was built solid.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
foundationnounUS /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/
the basis on which something is grounded
From this reading Thus, foot by foot it grew, and soon began to tower above its foundation.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Thus, foot by foot it grew, and soon began to tower above its foundation.
pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS Time rolled on, and the lighthouse at length began to grow.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It did not rise slowly, as does an ordinary building.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Thus, foot by foot it grew, and soon began to tower above its foundation.
set down according to a plan
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
owning or consisting of land or real estate
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS Time rolled on, and the lighthouse at length began to grow.
lighthousenounUS /ˈlaɪthaʊs/
a tower with a light that gives warning of shoals to passing ships
From this reading A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS Time rolled on, and the lighthouse at length began to grow.
masonrynounUS /ˈmeɪsənri/
structure built of stone or brick by a mason
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
mortared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It did not rise slowly, as does an ordinary building.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS Time rolled on, and the lighthouse at length began to grow.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS Time rolled on, and the lighthouse at length began to grow.
and nothing more
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading It did not rise slowly, as does an ordinary building.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
move upward
From this reading It did not rise slowly, as does an ordinary building.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS Time rolled on, and the lighthouse at length began to grow.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading It did not rise slowly, as does an ordinary building.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading From the foundation upwards for thirty feet it was built solid.
in the near future
From this reading Thus, foot by foot it grew, and soon began to tower above its foundation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS Time rolled on, and the lighthouse at length began to grow.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading From the foundation upwards for thirty feet it was built solid.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Thus, foot by foot it grew, and soon began to tower above its foundation.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS Time rolled on, and the lighthouse at length began to grow.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS Time rolled on, and the lighthouse at length began to grow.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading Thus, foot by foot it grew, and soon began to tower above its foundation.
trenailed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
upwardsadverbUS /ˈʌpwərdz/
spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position
From this reading From the foundation upwards for thirty feet it was built solid.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading From the foundation upwards for thirty feet it was built solid.
wedgedadjectiveUS /wedʒd/
wedged or packed in together
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
in or at the place that
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
work-yard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The courses of masonry having been formed and fitted on shore during the winter, had only to be removed from the work-yard at Arbroath to the rock, where they were laid, mortared, wedged, and trenailed, as fast as they could be landed.
