used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The architectural efforts of a child with a box of bricks or a heap of sand explain the Tower of Babel, the Pyramids, and the Golden House of Nero.
(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 BUYING HAPPINESS We are all children, and in nothing so much perhaps as in the kind of delight we take in any form of building.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BUYING HAPPINESS We are all children, and in nothing so much perhaps as in the kind of delight we take in any form of building.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading BUYING HAPPINESS We are all children, and in nothing so much perhaps as in the kind of delight we take in any form of building.
architecturaladjectiveUS /ˌɑːrkəˈtektʃərəl/
of or pertaining to the art and science of architecture
From this reading The architectural efforts of a child with a box of bricks or a heap of sand explain the Tower of Babel, the Pyramids, and the Golden House of Nero.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading BUYING HAPPINESS We are all children, and in nothing so much perhaps as in the kind of delight we take in any form of building.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading BUYING HAPPINESS We are all children, and in nothing so much perhaps as in the kind of delight we take in any form of building.
BabelnounUS /ˈbæbəl/
(Genesis 11:1-11) a tower built by Noah's descendants (probably in Babylon) who intended it to reach up to heaven; God foiled them by confusing their language so they could no longer understand one another
From this reading The architectural efforts of a child with a box of bricks or a heap of sand explain the Tower of Babel, the Pyramids, and the Golden House of Nero.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading What can there be more delightful than to see that which you have dreamed grow into tangible and enduring form?
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading The architectural efforts of a child with a box of bricks or a heap of sand explain the Tower of Babel, the Pyramids, and the Golden House of Nero.
bricksnounUS /brɪks/
plural of “brick” — rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material
From this reading The architectural efforts of a child with a box of bricks or a heap of sand explain the Tower of Babel, the Pyramids, and the Golden House of Nero.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading BUYING HAPPINESS We are all children, and in nothing so much perhaps as in the kind of delight we take in any form of building.
buildsnounUS /bɪldz/
plural of “build” — constitution of the human body
From this reading No wonder the rich man builds himself 'a lordly pleasure-house'; it is a kind of practical poetry which he can understand.
BUYINGnounUS /ˈbaɪɪŋ/
the act of buying
From this reading BUYING HAPPINESS We are all children, and in nothing so much perhaps as in the kind of delight we take in any form of building.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading What can there be more delightful than to see that which you have dreamed grow into tangible and enduring form?
a young person of either sex
From this reading The architectural efforts of a child with a box of bricks or a heap of sand explain the Tower of Babel, the Pyramids, and the Golden House of Nero.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading BUYING HAPPINESS We are all children, and in nothing so much perhaps as in the kind of delight we take in any form of building.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading BUYING HAPPINESS We are all children, and in nothing so much perhaps as in the kind of delight we take in any form of building.
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading What can there be more delightful than to see that which you have dreamed grow into tangible and enduring form?
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading What can there be more delightful than to see that which you have dreamed grow into tangible and enduring form?
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The architectural efforts of a child with a box of bricks or a heap of sand explain the Tower of Babel, the Pyramids, and the Golden House of Nero.
employmentnounUS /emˈplɔɪmənt/
the state of being employed or having a job
From this reading House-building unites the ideal with the real more thoroughly than any other human employment.
enduringadjectiveUS /enˈdjʊrɪŋ/
lasting a long time
From this reading What can there be more delightful than to see that which you have dreamed grow into tangible and enduring form?
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading The architectural efforts of a child with a box of bricks or a heap of sand explain the Tower of Babel, the Pyramids, and the Golden House of Nero.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading BUYING HAPPINESS We are all children, and in nothing so much perhaps as in the kind of delight we take in any form of building.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading The architectural efforts of a child with a box of bricks or a heap of sand explain the Tower of Babel, the Pyramids, and the Golden House of Nero.
pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading What can there be more delightful than to see that which you have dreamed grow into tangible and enduring form?
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading BUYING HAPPINESS We are all children, and in nothing so much perhaps as in the kind of delight we take in any form of building.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading What can there be more delightful than to see that which you have dreamed grow into tangible and enduring form?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading No wonder the rich man builds himself 'a lordly pleasure-house'; it is a kind of practical poetry which he can understand.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading The architectural efforts of a child with a box of bricks or a heap of sand explain the Tower of Babel, the Pyramids, and the Golden House of Nero.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading No wonder the rich man builds himself 'a lordly pleasure-house'; it is a kind of practical poetry which he can understand.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The architectural efforts of a child with a box of bricks or a heap of sand explain the Tower of Babel, the Pyramids, and the Golden House of Nero.
House-building
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading House-building unites the ideal with the real more thoroughly than any other human employment.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading House-building unites the ideal with the real more thoroughly than any other human employment.
idealadjectiveUS /aɪˈdiːl/
conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal
From this reading House-building unites the ideal with the real more thoroughly than any other human employment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BUYING HAPPINESS We are all children, and in nothing so much perhaps as in the kind of delight we take in any form of building.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading What can there be more delightful than to see that which you have dreamed grow into tangible and enduring form?
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No wonder the rich man builds himself 'a lordly pleasure-house'; it is a kind of practical poetry which he can understand.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading No wonder the rich man builds himself 'a lordly pleasure-house'; it is a kind of practical poetry which he can understand.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading BUYING HAPPINESS We are all children, and in nothing so much perhaps as in the kind of delight we take in any form of building.
lordlyadjectiveUS /ˈlɔːrdliː/
of or befitting a lord
From this reading No wonder the rich man builds himself 'a lordly pleasure-house'; it is a kind of practical poetry which he can understand.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading No wonder the rich man builds himself 'a lordly pleasure-house'; it is a kind of practical poetry which he can understand.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading House-building unites the ideal with the real more thoroughly than any other human employment.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading BUYING HAPPINESS We are all children, and in nothing so much perhaps as in the kind of delight we take in any form of building.
NeronounUS /ˈnɪroʊ/
Roman Emperor notorious for his monstrous vice and fantastic luxury (was said to have started a fire that destroyed much of Rome in 64) but the Roman Empire remained prosperous during his rule (37-68)
From this reading The architectural efforts of a child with a box of bricks or a heap of sand explain the Tower of Babel, the Pyramids, and the Golden House of Nero.
not any; not one
From this reading No wonder the rich man builds himself 'a lordly pleasure-house'; it is a kind of practical poetry which he can understand.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading BUYING HAPPINESS We are all children, and in nothing so much perhaps as in the kind of delight we take in any form of building.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BUYING HAPPINESS We are all children, and in nothing so much perhaps as in the kind of delight we take in any form of building.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The architectural efforts of a child with a box of bricks or a heap of sand explain the Tower of Babel, the Pyramids, and the Golden House of Nero.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading House-building unites the ideal with the real more thoroughly than any other human employment.
by chance
From this reading BUYING HAPPINESS We are all children, and in nothing so much perhaps as in the kind of delight we take in any form of building.
pleasure-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No wonder the rich man builds himself 'a lordly pleasure-house'; it is a kind of practical poetry which he can understand.
literature in metrical form
From this reading No wonder the rich man builds himself 'a lordly pleasure-house'; it is a kind of practical poetry which he can understand.
concerned with actual use or practice
From this reading No wonder the rich man builds himself 'a lordly pleasure-house'; it is a kind of practical poetry which he can understand.
PyramidsnounUS /ˈpɪrəmɪdz/
plural of “pyramid” — a polyhedron having a polygonal base and triangular sides with a common vertex
From this reading The architectural efforts of a child with a box of bricks or a heap of sand explain the Tower of Babel, the Pyramids, and the Golden House of Nero.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading House-building unites the ideal with the real more thoroughly than any other human employment.
possessing material wealth
From this reading No wonder the rich man builds himself 'a lordly pleasure-house'; it is a kind of practical poetry which he can understand.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading The architectural efforts of a child with a box of bricks or a heap of sand explain the Tower of Babel, the Pyramids, and the Golden House of Nero.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading What can there be more delightful than to see that which you have dreamed grow into tangible and enduring form?
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading BUYING HAPPINESS We are all children, and in nothing so much perhaps as in the kind of delight we take in any form of building.
carry out
From this reading BUYING HAPPINESS We are all children, and in nothing so much perhaps as in the kind of delight we take in any form of building.
tangibleadjectiveUS /ˈtændʒəbəl/
perceptible by the senses especially the sense of touch
From this reading What can there be more delightful than to see that which you have dreamed grow into tangible and enduring form?
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading House-building unites the ideal with the real more thoroughly than any other human employment.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading What can there be more delightful than to see that which you have dreamed grow into tangible and enduring form?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BUYING HAPPINESS We are all children, and in nothing so much perhaps as in the kind of delight we take in any form of building.
in or at that place or location
From this reading What can there be more delightful than to see that which you have dreamed grow into tangible and enduring form?
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading House-building unites the ideal with the real more thoroughly than any other human employment.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What can there be more delightful than to see that which you have dreamed grow into tangible and enduring form?
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading The architectural efforts of a child with a box of bricks or a heap of sand explain the Tower of Babel, the Pyramids, and the Golden House of Nero.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading No wonder the rich man builds himself 'a lordly pleasure-house'; it is a kind of practical poetry which he can understand.
unitesverbUS /juːˈnaɪts/
third-person singular of “unite” — act in concert or unite in a common purpose or belief
From this reading House-building unites the ideal with the real more thoroughly than any other human employment.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading BUYING HAPPINESS We are all children, and in nothing so much perhaps as in the kind of delight we take in any form of building.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What can there be more delightful than to see that which you have dreamed grow into tangible and enduring form?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading What can there be more delightful than to see that which you have dreamed grow into tangible and enduring form?
in the company of; together with
From this reading The architectural efforts of a child with a box of bricks or a heap of sand explain the Tower of Babel, the Pyramids, and the Golden House of Nero.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading No wonder the rich man builds himself 'a lordly pleasure-house'; it is a kind of practical poetry which he can understand.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading What can there be more delightful than to see that which you have dreamed grow into tangible and enduring form?
