used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
quickly and without warning
From this reading At sunset the swarming abruptly ceased; even the sampans appeared to draw closer together, with the quiet of water-fowl.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading They were silent and no longer observant, being more or less exhausted by the tedious action of the chairs.
Ah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Ah Cum had resumed his Oriental shell of reserve.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were silent and no longer observant, being more or less exhausted by the tedious action of the chairs.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading At sunset the swarming abruptly ceased; even the sampans appeared to draw closer together, with the quiet of water-fowl.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The tourists returned to the Sha-mien at four o'clock.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading They were silent and no longer observant, being more or less exhausted by the tedious action of the chairs.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They were silent and no longer observant, being more or less exhausted by the tedious action of the chairs.
canalnounUS /kəˈnæl/
(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 To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading At sunset the swarming abruptly ceased; even the sampans appeared to draw closer together, with the quiet of water-fowl.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading They were silent and no longer observant, being more or less exhausted by the tedious action of the chairs.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
chokedadjectiveUS /tʃoʊkt/
stopped up; clogged up
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading At sunset the swarming abruptly ceased; even the sampans appeared to draw closer together, with the quiet of water-fowl.
cottonnounUS /ˈkɑːtən/
soft silky fibers from cotton plants in their raw state
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
placed crosswise
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
CumnounUS /kʌm/
the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading Even Ah Cum had resumed his Oriental shell of reserve.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading At sunset the swarming abruptly ceased; even the sampans appeared to draw closer together, with the quiet of water-fowl.
divisible by two
From this reading Even Ah Cum had resumed his Oriental shell of reserve.
drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired; completely exhausted
From this reading They were silent and no longer observant, being more or less exhausted by the tedious action of the chairs.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading The tourists returned to the Sha-mien at four o'clock.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Even Ah Cum had resumed his Oriental shell of reserve.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Even Ah Cum had resumed his Oriental shell of reserve.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading They were silent and no longer observant, being more or less exhausted by the tedious action of the chairs.
for more time
From this reading They were silent and no longer observant, being more or less exhausted by the tedious action of the chairs.
the force of workers available
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They were silent and no longer observant, being more or less exhausted by the tedious action of the chairs.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
not any; not one
From this reading They were silent and no longer observant, being more or less exhausted by the tedious action of the chairs.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading The tourists returned to the Sha-mien at four o'clock.
observantadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvənt/
paying close attention especially to details
From this reading They were silent and no longer observant, being more or less exhausted by the tedious action of the chairs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were silent and no longer observant, being more or less exhausted by the tedious action of the chairs.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They were silent and no longer observant, being more or less exhausted by the tedious action of the chairs.
OrientaladjectiveUS /ˌɔːriˈentəl/
denoting or characteristic of countries of the Far East
From this reading Even Ah Cum had resumed his Oriental shell of reserve.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading At sunset the swarming abruptly ceased; even the sampans appeared to draw closer together, with the quiet of water-fowl.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
reservenounUS /rɪˈzɜːrv/
formality and propriety of manner
From this reading Even Ah Cum had resumed his Oriental shell of reserve.
past form of “resume” — take up or begin anew
From this reading Even Ah Cum had resumed his Oriental shell of reserve.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The tourists returned to the Sha-mien at four o'clock.
rockingverbUS /ˈrɑːkɪŋ/
-ing form of “rock” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
sampansnounUS /ˈsæmpænz/
plural of “sampan” — an Asian skiff usually propelled by two oars
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
Sha-mien
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tourists returned to the Sha-mien at four o'clock.
shadesnounUS /ʃeɪdz/
(plural) something that reminds you of someone or something
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
shellnounUS /ʃel/
ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading Even Ah Cum had resumed his Oriental shell of reserve.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading They were silent and no longer observant, being more or less exhausted by the tedious action of the chairs.
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading At sunset the swarming abruptly ceased; even the sampans appeared to draw closer together, with the quiet of water-fowl.
swarmedverbUS /swɔːrmd/
past form of “swarm” — be teeming, be abuzz
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
swarmingverbUS /ˈswɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “swarm” — be teeming, be abuzz
From this reading At sunset the swarming abruptly ceased; even the sampans appeared to draw closer together, with the quiet of water-fowl.
tediousadjectiveUS /ˈtiːdiəs/
so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
From this reading They were silent and no longer observant, being more or less exhausted by the tedious action of the chairs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The tourists returned to the Sha-mien at four o'clock.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were silent and no longer observant, being more or less exhausted by the tedious action of the chairs.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The tourists returned to the Sha-mien at four o'clock.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading At sunset the swarming abruptly ceased; even the sampans appeared to draw closer together, with the quiet of water-fowl.
touristsnounUS /ˈtʊrəsts/
plural of “tourist” — someone who travels for pleasure
From this reading The tourists returned to the Sha-mien at four o'clock.
variedadjectiveUS /ˈverid/
characterized by variety
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
VictorianounUS /vɪkˈtɔːriə/
queen of Great Britain and Ireland and empress of India from 1837 to 1901; the last Hanoverian ruler of England (1819-1901)
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
water-fowl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At sunset the swarming abruptly ceased; even the sampans appeared to draw closer together, with the quiet of water-fowl.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were silent and no longer observant, being more or less exhausted by the tedious action of the chairs.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
in the company of; together with
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading To reach the Sha-mien--and particularly the Hotel Victoria--one crossed a narrow canal, always choked with rocking sampans over and about which swarmed yellow men and women and children in varied shades of faded blue cotton.
