used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The wind was now diminishing--a sign, however, of a violent recurrence impending.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It might be about seven o’clock in the evening.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Portland is a peninsula; but the child did not know what a peninsula is, and was ignorant even of the name of Portland.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The child was on the table-land at the extreme south point of Portland.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It might be about seven o’clock in the evening.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Portland is a peninsula; but the child did not know what a peninsula is, and was ignorant even of the name of Portland.
a young person of either sex
From this reading The child was on the table-land at the extreme south point of Portland.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Portland is a peninsula; but the child did not know what a peninsula is, and was ignorant even of the name of Portland.
diminishingadjectiveUS /dɪˈmɪnɪʃɪŋ/
becoming smaller or less or appearing to do so
From this reading The wind was now diminishing--a sign, however, of a violent recurrence impending.
divisible by two
From this reading Portland is a peninsula; but the child did not know what a peninsula is, and was ignorant even of the name of Portland.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading It might be about seven o’clock in the evening.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading The child was on the table-land at the extreme south point of Portland.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The wind was now diminishing--a sign, however, of a violent recurrence impending.
HUMANadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading THE TREE OF HUMAN INVENTION.
uneducated in general; lacking knowledge or sophistication
From this reading Portland is a peninsula; but the child did not know what a peninsula is, and was ignorant even of the name of Portland.
impendingadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpendɪŋ/
close in time; about to occur
From this reading The wind was now diminishing--a sign, however, of a violent recurrence impending.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It might be about seven o’clock in the evening.
INVENTIONnounUS /ˌɪnˈvenʃən/
the creation of something in the mind
From this reading THE TREE OF HUMAN INVENTION.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Portland is a peninsula; but the child did not know what a peninsula is, and was ignorant even of the name of Portland.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It might be about seven o’clock in the evening.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Portland is a peninsula; but the child did not know what a peninsula is, and was ignorant even of the name of Portland.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It might be about seven o’clock in the evening.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Portland is a peninsula; but the child did not know what a peninsula is, and was ignorant even of the name of Portland.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Portland is a peninsula; but the child did not know what a peninsula is, and was ignorant even of the name of Portland.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The wind was now diminishing--a sign, however, of a violent recurrence impending.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading It might be about seven o’clock in the evening.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE TREE OF HUMAN INVENTION.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The child was on the table-land at the extreme south point of Portland.
peninsulanounUS /pəˈnɪnsələ/
a large mass of land projecting into a body of water
From this reading Portland is a peninsula; but the child did not know what a peninsula is, and was ignorant even of the name of Portland.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading The child was on the table-land at the extreme south point of Portland.
PortlandnounUS /ˈpɔːrtlənd/
freshwater port and largest city in Oregon; located in northwestern Oregon on the Willamette River which divides the city into east and west sections; renowned for its beautiful natural setting among the mountains
From this reading The child was on the table-land at the extreme south point of Portland.
recurrencenounUS /rɪˈkɜːrəns/
happening again (especially at regular intervals)
From this reading The wind was now diminishing--a sign, however, of a violent recurrence impending.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading It might be about seven o’clock in the evening.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading The wind was now diminishing--a sign, however, of a violent recurrence impending.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The child was on the table-land at the extreme south point of Portland.
table-land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The child was on the table-land at the extreme south point of Portland.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TREE OF HUMAN INVENTION.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading THE TREE OF HUMAN INVENTION.
acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
From this reading The wind was now diminishing--a sign, however, of a violent recurrence impending.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The wind was now diminishing--a sign, however, of a violent recurrence impending.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Portland is a peninsula; but the child did not know what a peninsula is, and was ignorant even of the name of Portland.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The wind was now diminishing--a sign, however, of a violent recurrence impending.
