Chapter XIII

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

in the past

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Eridu to-day is a dead city, buried under a sea of sand, yet this desolation marks, so far as we know, the very beginnings of civilization in Mesopotamia.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

plural of “beginning” — the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading Eridu to-day is a dead city, buried under a sea of sand, yet this desolation marks, so far as we know, the very beginnings of civilization in Mesopotamia.

rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

placed in a grave

From this reading Eridu to-day is a dead city, buried under a sea of sand, yet this desolation marks, so far as we know, the very beginnings of civilization in Mesopotamia.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading They wrote on clay tablets, and had their code of laws, and traded by ship with distant places.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

a period of 100 years

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

plural of “city” — a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading Eridu to-day is a dead city, buried under a sea of sand, yet this desolation marks, so far as we know, the very beginnings of civilization in Mesopotamia.

a society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)

From this reading Eridu to-day is a dead city, buried under a sea of sand, yet this desolation marks, so far as we know, the very beginnings of civilization in Mesopotamia.

a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired

From this reading They wrote on clay tablets, and had their code of laws, and traded by ship with distant places.

a set of rules or principles or laws (especially written ones)

From this reading They wrote on clay tablets, and had their code of laws, and traded by ship with distant places.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

a particular society at a particular time and place

From this reading Here it was that the Sumerians rose out of the dim past, with a culture that was far higher than that of many nations still peopling the world.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading Eridu to-day is a dead city, buried under a sea of sand, yet this desolation marks, so far as we know, the very beginnings of civilization in Mesopotamia.

the state of being decayed or destroyed

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

From this reading Here it was that the Sumerians rose out of the dim past, with a culture that was far higher than that of many nations still peopling the world.

separated in space or coming from or going to a distance

From this reading They wrote on clay tablets, and had their code of laws, and traded by ship with distant places.

inflected form of “dot” — scatter or intersperse like dots or studs

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

an udder or breast or teat

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Eridu to-day is a dead city, buried under a sea of sand, yet this desolation marks, so far as we know, the very beginnings of civilization in Mesopotamia.

very lively and profitable

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

endowed with talent or talents

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading They wrote on clay tablets, and had their code of laws, and traded by ship with distant places.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Here it was that the Sumerians rose out of the dim past, with a culture that was far higher than that of many nations still peopling the world.

advanced in complexity or elaboration

From this reading Here it was that the Sumerians rose out of the dim past, with a culture that was far higher than that of many nations still peopling the world.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Eridu to-day is a dead city, buried under a sea of sand, yet this desolation marks, so far as we know, the very beginnings of civilization in Mesopotamia.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Here it was that the Sumerians rose out of the dim past, with a culture that was far higher than that of many nations still peopling the world.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Eridu to-day is a dead city, buried under a sea of sand, yet this desolation marks, so far as we know, the very beginnings of civilization in Mesopotamia.

the first of three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures comprising the first five books of the Hebrew Bible considered as a unit

From this reading They wrote on clay tablets, and had their code of laws, and traded by ship with distant places.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

English businessman who created a retail chain (1888-1964)

From this reading Eridu to-day is a dead city, buried under a sea of sand, yet this desolation marks, so far as we know, the very beginnings of civilization in Mesopotamia.

the force of workers available

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

the land between the Tigris and Euphrates; site of several ancient civilizations; part of what is now known as Iraq

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

(baseball) the slight elevation on which the pitcher stands

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

plural of “mound” — (baseball) the slight elevation on which the pitcher stands

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

plural of “nation” — a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading Here it was that the Sumerians rose out of the dim past, with a culture that was far higher than that of many nations still peopling the world.

an ancient Assyrian city on the Tigris across from the modern city of Mosul in the northern part of what is now known as Iraq

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

not any; not one

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading Here it was that the Sumerians rose out of the dim past, with a culture that was far higher than that of many nations still peopling the world.

-ing form of “peep” — look furtively

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Here it was that the Sumerians rose out of the dim past, with a culture that was far higher than that of many nations still peopling the world.

select carefully from a group

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading They wrote on clay tablets, and had their code of laws, and traded by ship with distant places.

a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading Here it was that the Sumerians rose out of the dim past, with a culture that was far higher than that of many nations still peopling the world.

destroyed physically or morally

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading Eridu to-day is a dead city, buried under a sea of sand, yet this desolation marks, so far as we know, the very beginnings of civilization in Mesopotamia.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

transport commercially

From this reading They wrote on clay tablets, and had their code of laws, and traded by ship with distant places.

a hand tool for lifting loose material; consists of a curved container or scoop and a handle

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Eridu to-day is a dead city, buried under a sea of sand, yet this desolation marks, so far as we know, the very beginnings of civilization in Mesopotamia.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

not in physical motion

From this reading Here it was that the Sumerians rose out of the dim past, with a culture that was far higher than that of many nations still peopling the world.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Here it was that the Sumerians rose out of the dim past, with a culture that was far higher than that of many nations still peopling the world.

plural of “tablet” — a slab of stone or wood suitable for bearing an inscription

From this reading They wrote on clay tablets, and had their code of laws, and traded by ship with distant places.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Here it was that the Sumerians rose out of the dim past, with a culture that was far higher than that of many nations still peopling the world.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They wrote on clay tablets, and had their code of laws, and traded by ship with distant places.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They wrote on clay tablets, and had their code of laws, and traded by ship with distant places.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

three of four equal parts

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

an Asian river; a tributary of the Euphrates River

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Eridu to-day is a dead city, buried under a sea of sand, yet this desolation marks, so far as we know, the very beginnings of civilization in Mesopotamia.

the upper part of anything

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

past form of “trade” — engage in the trade of

From this reading They wrote on clay tablets, and had their code of laws, and traded by ship with distant places.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Eridu to-day is a dead city, buried under a sea of sand, yet this desolation marks, so far as we know, the very beginnings of civilization in Mesopotamia.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

having passed out of existence

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

precisely as stated

From this reading Eridu to-day is a dead city, buried under a sea of sand, yet this desolation marks, so far as we know, the very beginnings of civilization in Mesopotamia.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Eridu to-day is a dead city, buried under a sea of sand, yet this desolation marks, so far as we know, the very beginnings of civilization in Mesopotamia.

past form of “wield” — have and exercise

From this reading Since Layard dug up the vanished cities of Nineveh and Calah on the banks of the Tigris three-quarters of a century ago, many gifted men have followed in his footsteps, and wielded pick and shovel among the mounds dotting Mesopotamia.

in the company of; together with

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading Here it was that the Sumerians rose out of the dim past, with a culture that was far higher than that of many nations still peopling the world.

inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work

From this reading They wrote on clay tablets, and had their code of laws, and traded by ship with distant places.

a late time of life

From this reading No one coming upon the utter desolation of Abu Shahrein could imagine that this great mound of sand, with the ruined brick tower peeping out at the top, was some six thousand years ago the flourishing port of Eridu.

but in spite of that

From this reading Eridu to-day is a dead city, buried under a sea of sand, yet this desolation marks, so far as we know, the very beginnings of civilization in Mesopotamia.