used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading These were the representatives of a once great people, and who still deem themselves the first of mankind.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After the fireworks came the "fandango."
alterationnounUS /ˌɔːltərˈeɪʃən/
an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
From this reading There we meet the same faces, without much alteration in the costumes.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I felt sure that this was an illusion.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading These were the representatives of a once great people, and who still deem themselves the first of mankind.
annihilationnounUS /əˌnaɪəˈleɪʃən/
destruction by annihilating something
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading After the fireworks came the "fandango."
persuaded of; very sure
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
costumesnounUS /kɑːˈstuːmz/
plural of “costume” — the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball
From this reading There we meet the same faces, without much alteration in the costumes.
culminatingverbUS /ˈkʌlməneɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “culminate” — end, especially to reach a final or climactic stage
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
decliningverbUS /dɪˈklaɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “decline” — grow worse
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
deemverbUS /diːm/
keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view
From this reading These were the representatives of a once great people, and who still deem themselves the first of mankind.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading There we meet the same faces, without much alteration in the costumes.
fandangonounUS /fænˈdæŋɡoʊ/
a provocative Spanish courtship dance in triple time; performed by a man and a woman playing castanets
From this reading After the fireworks came the "fandango."
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading I felt sure that this was an illusion.
fireworksnounUS /ˈfaɪrwɜːrks/
plural of “firework” — (usually plural) a device with an explosive that burns at a low rate and with colored flames; can be used to illuminate areas or send signals etc.
From this reading After the fireworks came the "fandango."
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading These were the representatives of a once great people, and who still deem themselves the first of mankind.
glidingnounUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪŋ/
the activity of flying a glider
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading These were the representatives of a once great people, and who still deem themselves the first of mankind.
greatnessnounUS /ˈɡreɪtnəs/
the property possessed by something or someone of outstanding importance or eminence
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I felt sure that this was an illusion.
illusionnounUS /ˌɪˈluːʒən/
an erroneous mental representation
From this reading I felt sure that this was an illusion.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There we meet the same faces, without much alteration in the costumes.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
leadsnounUS /liːdz/
plural of “lead” — an advantage held by a competitor in a race
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
all of the living human inhabitants of the earth
From this reading These were the representatives of a once great people, and who still deem themselves the first of mankind.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
come together
From this reading There we meet the same faces, without much alteration in the costumes.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading There we meet the same faces, without much alteration in the costumes.
nothingnessnounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋnəs/
the state of nonexistence
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading These were the representatives of a once great people, and who still deem themselves the first of mankind.
on one occasion
From this reading These were the representatives of a once great people, and who still deem themselves the first of mankind.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading These were the representatives of a once great people, and who still deem themselves the first of mankind.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
pyro-spectacle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
with speed
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
receptionnounUS /rɪˈsepʃən/
the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
representativesnounUS /ˌreprəˈzentətɪvz/
plural of “representative” — a person who represents others
From this reading These were the representatives of a once great people, and who still deem themselves the first of mankind.
Identical; not different.
From this reading There we meet the same faces, without much alteration in the costumes.
cut with a saw
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
an elevated geological formation
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
not in physical motion
From this reading These were the representatives of a once great people, and who still deem themselves the first of mankind.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading I felt sure that this was an illusion.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I felt sure that this was an illusion.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading These were the representatives of a once great people, and who still deem themselves the first of mankind.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading These were the representatives of a once great people, and who still deem themselves the first of mankind.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There we meet the same faces, without much alteration in the costumes.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These were the representatives of a once great people, and who still deem themselves the first of mankind.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I felt sure that this was an illusion.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The pyro-spectacle and its reception convinced me that I saw before me a people who had passed the culminating point of their greatness, and were now gliding rapidly down the declining slope that leads to annihilation and nothingness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I felt sure that this was an illusion.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading There we meet the same faces, without much alteration in the costumes.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These were the representatives of a once great people, and who still deem themselves the first of mankind.
which person or people
From this reading These were the representatives of a once great people, and who still deem themselves the first of mankind.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading There we meet the same faces, without much alteration in the costumes.
