used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Different, however, oh! how different from the Egypt of the nineteenth century, was the fertile country which now lay like a map beneath their feet.
(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 They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading No event of any importance occurred to our travellers in the course of their aërial voyage.
aërial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No event of any importance occurred to our travellers in the course of their aërial voyage.
English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)
From this reading No more did the Nile overflow its banks: a thousand channels were cut to receive its waters.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Different, however, oh! how different from the Egypt of the nineteenth century, was the fertile country which now lay like a map beneath their feet.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
canalsnounUS /kəˈnælz/
plural of “canal” — (astronomy) an indistinct surface feature of Mars once thought to be a system of channels; they are now believed to be an optical illusion
From this reading Improvement had turned her gigantic steps towards its once desert plains; Commerce had waved her magic wand; and towns and cities, manufactories and canals, spread in all directions.
a period of 100 years
From this reading Different, however, oh! how different from the Egypt of the nineteenth century, was the fertile country which now lay like a map beneath their feet.
channelsnounUS /ˈtʃænəlz/
official routes of communication
From this reading No more did the Nile overflow its banks: a thousand channels were cut to receive its waters.
citiesnounUS /ˈsɪtiz/
plural of “city” — a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading Improvement had turned her gigantic steps towards its once desert plains; Commerce had waved her magic wand; and towns and cities, manufactories and canals, spread in all directions.
CommercenounUS /ˈkɑːmərs/
transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services)
From this reading Improvement had turned her gigantic steps towards its once desert plains; Commerce had waved her magic wand; and towns and cities, manufactories and canals, spread in all directions.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Different, however, oh! how different from the Egypt of the nineteenth century, was the fertile country which now lay like a map beneath their feet.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading No event of any importance occurred to our travellers in the course of their aërial voyage.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading No more did the Nile overflow its banks: a thousand channels were cut to receive its waters.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading Improvement had turned her gigantic steps towards its once desert plains; Commerce had waved her magic wand; and towns and cities, manufactories and canals, spread in all directions.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading No more did the Nile overflow its banks: a thousand channels were cut to receive its waters.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading Different, however, oh! how different from the Egypt of the nineteenth century, was the fertile country which now lay like a map beneath their feet.
plural of “direction” — a line leading to a place or point
From this reading Improvement had turned her gigantic steps towards its once desert plains; Commerce had waved her magic wand; and towns and cities, manufactories and canals, spread in all directions.
EgyptnounUS /ˈiːdʒəpt/
a republic in northeastern Africa known as the United Arab Republic until 1971; site of an ancient civilization that flourished from 2600 to 30 BC
From this reading They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading No event of any importance occurred to our travellers in the course of their aërial voyage.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Different, however, oh! how different from the Egypt of the nineteenth century, was the fertile country which now lay like a map beneath their feet.
fertileadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːrtəl/
capable of reproducing
From this reading Different, however, oh! how different from the Egypt of the nineteenth century, was the fertile country which now lay like a map beneath their feet.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Different, however, oh! how different from the Egypt of the nineteenth century, was the fertile country which now lay like a map beneath their feet.
giganticadjectiveUS /dʒaɪˈɡæntɪk/
so exceedingly large or extensive as to suggest a giant or mammoth
From this reading Improvement had turned her gigantic steps towards its once desert plains; Commerce had waved her magic wand; and towns and cities, manufactories and canals, spread in all directions.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Improvement had turned her gigantic steps towards its once desert plains; Commerce had waved her magic wand; and towns and cities, manufactories and canals, spread in all directions.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Improvement had turned her gigantic steps towards its once desert plains; Commerce had waved her magic wand; and towns and cities, manufactories and canals, spread in all directions.
hoveringverbUS /ˈhʌvərɪŋ/
-ing form of “hover” — be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
From this reading They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Different, however, oh! how different from the Egypt of the nineteenth century, was the fertile country which now lay like a map beneath their feet.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Different, however, oh! how different from the Egypt of the nineteenth century, was the fertile country which now lay like a map beneath their feet.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading No event of any importance occurred to our travellers in the course of their aërial voyage.
ImprovementnounUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvmənt/
a change for the better; progress in development
From this reading Improvement had turned her gigantic steps towards its once desert plains; Commerce had waved her magic wand; and towns and cities, manufactories and canals, spread in all directions.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading No event of any importance occurred to our travellers in the course of their aërial voyage.
incrediblyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈkredəbli/
not easy to believe
From this reading They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Improvement had turned her gigantic steps towards its once desert plains; Commerce had waved her magic wand; and towns and cities, manufactories and canals, spread in all directions.
plural of “kind” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Different, however, oh! how different from the Egypt of the nineteenth century, was the fertile country which now lay like a map beneath their feet.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Different, however, oh! how different from the Egypt of the nineteenth century, was the fertile country which now lay like a map beneath their feet.
any art that invokes supernatural powers
From this reading Improvement had turned her gigantic steps towards its once desert plains; Commerce had waved her magic wand; and towns and cities, manufactories and canals, spread in all directions.
manufactories
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Improvement had turned her gigantic steps towards its once desert plains; Commerce had waved her magic wand; and towns and cities, manufactories and canals, spread in all directions.
mapverbUS /mæp/
make a map of; show or establish the features of details of
From this reading Different, however, oh! how different from the Egypt of the nineteenth century, was the fertile country which now lay like a map beneath their feet.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading No more did the Nile overflow its banks: a thousand channels were cut to receive its waters.
necessaries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
NilenounUS /naɪl/
the world's longest river (4150 miles); flows northward through eastern Africa into the Mediterranean; the Nile River valley in Egypt was the site of the world's first great civilization
From this reading No more did the Nile overflow its banks: a thousand channels were cut to receive its waters.
nineteenthadjectiveUS /ˈnaɪnˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the eighteenth in position
From this reading Different, however, oh! how different from the Egypt of the nineteenth century, was the fertile country which now lay like a map beneath their feet.
not any; not one
From this reading No event of any importance occurred to our travellers in the course of their aërial voyage.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Different, however, oh! how different from the Egypt of the nineteenth century, was the fertile country which now lay like a map beneath their feet.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading No event of any importance occurred to our travellers in the course of their aërial voyage.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading No event of any importance occurred to our travellers in the course of their aërial voyage.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading Different, however, oh! how different from the Egypt of the nineteenth century, was the fertile country which now lay like a map beneath their feet.
on one occasion
From this reading Improvement had turned her gigantic steps towards its once desert plains; Commerce had waved her magic wand; and towns and cities, manufactories and canals, spread in all directions.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading No event of any importance occurred to our travellers in the course of their aërial voyage.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
overflownounUS /ˈoʊvərfloʊ/
a large flow
From this reading No more did the Nile overflow its banks: a thousand channels were cut to receive its waters.
plainsnounUS /pleɪnz/
plural of “plain” — extensive tract of level open land
From this reading Improvement had turned her gigantic steps towards its once desert plains; Commerce had waved her magic wand; and towns and cities, manufactories and canals, spread in all directions.
past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
get something; come into possession of
From this reading No more did the Nile overflow its banks: a thousand channels were cut to receive its waters.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading Improvement had turned her gigantic steps towards its once desert plains; Commerce had waved her magic wand; and towns and cities, manufactories and canals, spread in all directions.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Improvement had turned her gigantic steps towards its once desert plains; Commerce had waved her magic wand; and towns and cities, manufactories and canals, spread in all directions.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading No event of any importance occurred to our travellers in the course of their aërial voyage.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading No event of any importance occurred to our travellers in the course of their aërial voyage.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading No more did the Nile overflow its banks: a thousand channels were cut to receive its waters.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading No event of any importance occurred to our travellers in the course of their aërial voyage.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
in the direction of
From this reading Improvement had turned her gigantic steps towards its once desert plains; Commerce had waved her magic wand; and towns and cities, manufactories and canals, spread in all directions.
townsnounUS /taʊnz/
plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Improvement had turned her gigantic steps towards its once desert plains; Commerce had waved her magic wand; and towns and cities, manufactories and canals, spread in all directions.
travellersnounUS /ˈtrævələrz/
plural of “traveller” — a person who changes location
From this reading No event of any importance occurred to our travellers in the course of their aërial voyage.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Improvement had turned her gigantic steps towards its once desert plains; Commerce had waved her magic wand; and towns and cities, manufactories and canals, spread in all directions.
an act of traveling by water
From this reading No event of any importance occurred to our travellers in the course of their aërial voyage.
wandnounUS /wɑːnd/
a rod used by a magician or water diviner
From this reading Improvement had turned her gigantic steps towards its once desert plains; Commerce had waved her magic wand; and towns and cities, manufactories and canals, spread in all directions.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Different, however, oh! how different from the Egypt of the nineteenth century, was the fertile country which now lay like a map beneath their feet.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading No more did the Nile overflow its banks: a thousand channels were cut to receive its waters.
past form of “wave” — signal with the hands or nod
From this reading Improvement had turned her gigantic steps towards its once desert plains; Commerce had waved her magic wand; and towns and cities, manufactories and canals, spread in all directions.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Different, however, oh! how different from the Egypt of the nineteenth century, was the fertile country which now lay like a map beneath their feet.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They were too well provided with all kinds of necessaries to have any occasion to rest by the way, and in an incredibly short space of time they were hovering over Egypt.
