used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading We wondered why they should dress in this voluminous fashion in such a climate, and then we decided that the wisdom of the East had prompted the protection of that head-gear and general assortment of wardrobe against the blazing sun.
(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 All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading They were Arabs of one tribe or another and they wore a motley dress.
ArabsnounUS /ˈærəbz/
plural of “arab” — a member of a Semitic people originally from the Arabian peninsula and surrounding territories who speaks Arabic and who inhabits much of the Middle East and northern Africa
From this reading They were Arabs of one tribe or another and they wore a motley dress.
assortmentnounUS /əˈsɔːrtmənt/
a collection containing a variety of sorts of things
From this reading We wondered why they should dress in this voluminous fashion in such a climate, and then we decided that the wisdom of the East had prompted the protection of that head-gear and general assortment of wardrobe against the blazing sun.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
blazingadjectiveUS /ˈbleɪzɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading We wondered why they should dress in this voluminous fashion in such a climate, and then we decided that the wisdom of the East had prompted the protection of that head-gear and general assortment of wardrobe against the blazing sun.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
capenounUS /keɪp/
a strip of land projecting into a body of water
From this reading All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
climatenounUS /ˈklaɪmət/
the weather in some location averaged over some long period of time
From this reading We wondered why they should dress in this voluminous fashion in such a climate, and then we decided that the wisdom of the East had prompted the protection of that head-gear and general assortment of wardrobe against the blazing sun.
coatsnounUS /koʊts/
plural of “coat” — an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading A few of them had on thick European coats over their other paraphernalia.
consoledverbUS /kənˈsoʊld/
past form of “console” — give moral or emotional strength to
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
cumbersomeadjectiveUS /ˈkʌmbərsəm/
difficult to handle or use especially because of size or weight
From this reading All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
recognizable; marked
From this reading We wondered why they should dress in this voluminous fashion in such a climate, and then we decided that the wisdom of the East had prompted the protection of that head-gear and general assortment of wardrobe against the blazing sun.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
drapedadjectiveUS /dreɪpt/
covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
From this reading All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
put on clothes
From this reading They were Arabs of one tribe or another and they wore a motley dress.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading We wondered why they should dress in this voluminous fashion in such a climate, and then we decided that the wisdom of the East had prompted the protection of that head-gear and general assortment of wardrobe against the blazing sun.
esplanadenounUS /ˌespləˈnɑːd/
a long stretch of open level ground (paved or grassy) for walking beside the seashore
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
EuropeannounUS /ˌjʊrəˈpiːən/
a native or inhabitant of Europe
From this reading A few of them had on thick European coats over their other paraphernalia.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading We wondered why they should dress in this voluminous fashion in such a climate, and then we decided that the wisdom of the East had prompted the protection of that head-gear and general assortment of wardrobe against the blazing sun.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few of them had on thick European coats over their other paraphernalia.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
flanksnounUS /flæŋks/
plural of “flank” — the side of military or naval formation
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other
From this reading All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading We wondered why they should dress in this voluminous fashion in such a climate, and then we decided that the wisdom of the East had prompted the protection of that head-gear and general assortment of wardrobe against the blazing sun.
grainnounUS /ɡreɪn/
a relatively small granular particle of a substance
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
gunny-sack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
head-gear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
hoodnounUS /hʊd/
an aggressive and violent young criminal
From this reading All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
motleynounUS /ˈmɑːtli/
a collection containing a variety of sorts of things
From this reading They were Arabs of one tribe or another and they wore a motley dress.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were Arabs of one tribe or another and they wore a motley dress.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A few of them had on thick European coats over their other paraphernalia.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They were Arabs of one tribe or another and they wore a motley dress.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They were Arabs of one tribe or another and they wore a motley dress.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading A few of them had on thick European coats over their other paraphernalia.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A few of them had on thick European coats over their other paraphernalia.
paraphernalianounUS /ˌperəfəˈneɪljə/
equipment consisting of miscellaneous articles needed for a particular operation or sport etc.
From this reading A few of them had on thick European coats over their other paraphernalia.
by chance
From this reading All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
promptedverbUS /ˈprɑːmptɪd/
past form of “prompt” — give an incentive for action
From this reading We wondered why they should dress in this voluminous fashion in such a climate, and then we decided that the wisdom of the East had prompted the protection of that head-gear and general assortment of wardrobe against the blazing sun.
the activity of protecting someone or something
From this reading We wondered why they should dress in this voluminous fashion in such a climate, and then we decided that the wisdom of the East had prompted the protection of that head-gear and general assortment of wardrobe against the blazing sun.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
shawlnounUS /ʃɔːl/
cloak consisting of an oblong piece of cloth used to cover the head and shoulders
From this reading All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading We wondered why they should dress in this voluminous fashion in such a climate, and then we decided that the wisdom of the East had prompted the protection of that head-gear and general assortment of wardrobe against the blazing sun.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
storingverbUS /ˈstɔːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “store” — keep or lay aside for future use
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading We wondered why they should dress in this voluminous fashion in such a climate, and then we decided that the wisdom of the East had prompted the protection of that head-gear and general assortment of wardrobe against the blazing sun.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading We wondered why they should dress in this voluminous fashion in such a climate, and then we decided that the wisdom of the East had prompted the protection of that head-gear and general assortment of wardrobe against the blazing sun.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A few of them had on thick European coats over their other paraphernalia.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A few of them had on thick European coats over their other paraphernalia.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading We wondered why they should dress in this voluminous fashion in such a climate, and then we decided that the wisdom of the East had prompted the protection of that head-gear and general assortment of wardrobe against the blazing sun.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading A few of them had on thick European coats over their other paraphernalia.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading We wondered why they should dress in this voluminous fashion in such a climate, and then we decided that the wisdom of the East had prompted the protection of that head-gear and general assortment of wardrobe against the blazing sun.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
tribenounUS /traɪb/
a social division of (usually preliterate) people
From this reading They were Arabs of one tribe or another and they wore a motley dress.
turbannounUS /ˈtɜːrbən/
a traditional Muslim headdress consisting of a long scarf wrapped around the head
From this reading All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
voluminousadjectiveUS /vəˈluːmənəs/
large in volume or bulk
From this reading We wondered why they should dress in this voluminous fashion in such a climate, and then we decided that the wisdom of the East had prompted the protection of that head-gear and general assortment of wardrobe against the blazing sun.
wardrobenounUS /ˈwɔːrdroʊb/
a tall piece of furniture that provides storage space for clothes; has a door and rails or hooks for hanging clothes
From this reading We wondered why they should dress in this voluminous fashion in such a climate, and then we decided that the wisdom of the East had prompted the protection of that head-gear and general assortment of wardrobe against the blazing sun.
warehousesnounUS /ˈwerhaʊzɪz/
plural of “warehouse” — a storehouse for goods and merchandise
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
water-front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were Arabs of one tribe or another and they wore a motley dress.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading We wondered why they should dress in this voluminous fashion in such a climate, and then we decided that the wisdom of the East had prompted the protection of that head-gear and general assortment of wardrobe against the blazing sun.
accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment
From this reading We wondered why they should dress in this voluminous fashion in such a climate, and then we decided that the wisdom of the East had prompted the protection of that head-gear and general assortment of wardrobe against the blazing sun.
in the company of; together with
From this reading All had some kind of what seemed cumbersome head-gear--a turban or a folded shawl, or perhaps an old gunny-sack made into a sort of hood with a long cape that draped down behind.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading We wondered why they should dress in this voluminous fashion in such a climate, and then we decided that the wisdom of the East had prompted the protection of that head-gear and general assortment of wardrobe against the blazing sun.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading They were Arabs of one tribe or another and they wore a motley dress.
workmennounUS /ˈwɜːrkmɪn/
plural of “workman” — an employee who performs manual or industrial labor
From this reading We watched some workmen storing grain in warehouses built under the fine esplanade that flanks the water-front, and the picture they made consoled us for a time.
