used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a gloomy place.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was about six feet square, and there were three stone steps leading up in front.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading That is, it looked like a rock at first sight, but upon a closer inspection it proved to be a cube of well-fitted, although roughly finished, masonry.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was about six feet square, and there were three stone steps leading up in front.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It would have been dark but for a heap of blazing wood upon a rock at one side.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading That is, it looked like a rock at first sight, but upon a closer inspection it proved to be a cube of well-fitted, although roughly finished, masonry.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It would have been dark but for a heap of blazing wood upon a rock at one side.
blazingadjectiveUS /ˈbleɪzɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading It would have been dark but for a heap of blazing wood upon a rock at one side.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It would have been dark but for a heap of blazing wood upon a rock at one side.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading That is, it looked like a rock at first sight, but upon a closer inspection it proved to be a cube of well-fitted, although roughly finished, masonry.
cubenounUS /kjuːb/
a hexahedron with six equal squares as faces
From this reading That is, it looked like a rock at first sight, but upon a closer inspection it proved to be a cube of well-fitted, although roughly finished, masonry.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It would have been dark but for a heap of blazing wood upon a rock at one side.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading It was about six feet square, and there were three stone steps leading up in front.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading That is, it looked like a rock at first sight, but upon a closer inspection it proved to be a cube of well-fitted, although roughly finished, masonry.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading That is, it looked like a rock at first sight, but upon a closer inspection it proved to be a cube of well-fitted, although roughly finished, masonry.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It would have been dark but for a heap of blazing wood upon a rock at one side.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading It was about six feet square, and there were three stone steps leading up in front.
depressingly dark
From this reading It was a gloomy place.
plural of “god” — the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading THE GODS OF THE MONTEZUMAS.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It would have been dark but for a heap of blazing wood upon a rock at one side.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading It would have been dark but for a heap of blazing wood upon a rock at one side.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was about six feet square, and there were three stone steps leading up in front.
inspectionnounUS /ˌɪnˈspekʃən/
a formal or official examination
From this reading That is, it looked like a rock at first sight, but upon a closer inspection it proved to be a cube of well-fitted, although roughly finished, masonry.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That is, it looked like a rock at first sight, but upon a closer inspection it proved to be a cube of well-fitted, although roughly finished, masonry.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a gloomy place.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading It was about six feet square, and there were three stone steps leading up in front.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading That is, it looked like a rock at first sight, but upon a closer inspection it proved to be a cube of well-fitted, although roughly finished, masonry.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading That is, it looked like a rock at first sight, but upon a closer inspection it proved to be a cube of well-fitted, although roughly finished, masonry.
masonrynounUS /ˈmeɪsənri/
structure built of stone or brick by a mason
From this reading That is, it looked like a rock at first sight, but upon a closer inspection it proved to be a cube of well-fitted, although roughly finished, masonry.
MONTEZUMAS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GODS OF THE MONTEZUMAS.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE GODS OF THE MONTEZUMAS.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It would have been dark but for a heap of blazing wood upon a rock at one side.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It was a gloomy place.
established beyond doubt
From this reading That is, it looked like a rock at first sight, but upon a closer inspection it proved to be a cube of well-fitted, although roughly finished, masonry.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading It would have been dark but for a heap of blazing wood upon a rock at one side.
roughlyadverbUS /ˈrʌfli/
(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
From this reading That is, it looked like a rock at first sight, but upon a closer inspection it proved to be a cube of well-fitted, although roughly finished, masonry.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading It would have been dark but for a heap of blazing wood upon a rock at one side.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading That is, it looked like a rock at first sight, but upon a closer inspection it proved to be a cube of well-fitted, although roughly finished, masonry.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading It was about six feet square, and there were three stone steps leading up in front.
make square
From this reading It was about six feet square, and there were three stone steps leading up in front.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading It was about six feet square, and there were three stone steps leading up in front.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading It was about six feet square, and there were three stone steps leading up in front.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That is, it looked like a rock at first sight, but upon a closer inspection it proved to be a cube of well-fitted, although roughly finished, masonry.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GODS OF THE MONTEZUMAS.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was about six feet square, and there were three stone steps leading up in front.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading It was about six feet square, and there were three stone steps leading up in front.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That is, it looked like a rock at first sight, but upon a closer inspection it proved to be a cube of well-fitted, although roughly finished, masonry.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was about six feet square, and there were three stone steps leading up in front.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It would have been dark but for a heap of blazing wood upon a rock at one side.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a gloomy place.
well-fitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is, it looked like a rock at first sight, but upon a closer inspection it proved to be a cube of well-fitted, although roughly finished, masonry.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was about six feet square, and there were three stone steps leading up in front.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading It would have been dark but for a heap of blazing wood upon a rock at one side.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would have been dark but for a heap of blazing wood upon a rock at one side.
