1866
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, in the spring of 1866 the impulse of expansion was not yet visibly felt anywhere; the enormous material growth that followed the civil war had not yet begun.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We had expected to stay in Boston only until we could find a house in Old Cambridge.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading In Cambridge the houses to be let were few, and such as there were fell either below our pride or rose above our purse.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading This was not so simple a matter as it might seem; for the ancient town had not yet quickened its scholarly pace to the modern step.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In Cambridge the houses to be let were few, and such as there were fell either below our pride or rose above our purse.
anywhereadverbUS /ˈeniwer/
at or in or to any place
From this reading Indeed, in the spring of 1866 the impulse of expansion was not yet visibly felt anywhere; the enormous material growth that followed the civil war had not yet begun.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This was not so simple a matter as it might seem; for the ancient town had not yet quickened its scholarly pace to the modern step.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
backedadjectiveUS /bækt/
having a back or backing, usually of a specified type
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In Cambridge the houses to be let were few, and such as there were fell either below our pride or rose above our purse.
begunverbUS /bɪˈɡʌn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Indeed, in the spring of 1866 the impulse of expansion was not yet visibly felt anywhere; the enormous material growth that followed the civil war had not yet begun.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading In Cambridge the houses to be let were few, and such as there were fell either below our pride or rose above our purse.
BostonnounUS /ˈbɑːstən/
state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services
From this reading We had expected to stay in Boston only until we could find a house in Old Cambridge.
boughtverbUS /bɑːt/
inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
CambridgenounUS /ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ/
a university in England
From this reading We had expected to stay in Boston only until we could find a house in Old Cambridge.
civiladjectiveUS /ˈsɪvəl/
applying to ordinary citizens as contrasted with the military
From this reading Indeed, in the spring of 1866 the impulse of expansion was not yet visibly felt anywhere; the enormous material growth that followed the civil war had not yet begun.
constantadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnstənt/
unvarying in nature
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading We had expected to stay in Boston only until we could find a house in Old Cambridge.
creditnounUS /ˈkredət/
approval
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
credulitynounUS /krɪˈduːləti/
tendency to believe readily
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
doubtedverbUS /ˈdaʊtɪd/
past form of “doubt” — consider unlikely or have doubts about
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading In Cambridge the houses to be let were few, and such as there were fell either below our pride or rose above our purse.
enormousadjectiveUS /ɪˈnɔːrməs/
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading Indeed, in the spring of 1866 the impulse of expansion was not yet visibly felt anywhere; the enormous material growth that followed the civil war had not yet begun.
expansionnounUS /ɪkˈspænʃən/
the act of increasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope
From this reading Indeed, in the spring of 1866 the impulse of expansion was not yet visibly felt anywhere; the enormous material growth that followed the civil war had not yet begun.
expectedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspektəd/
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading We had expected to stay in Boston only until we could find a house in Old Cambridge.
faithnounUS /feɪθ/
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
fellverbUS /fel/
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading In Cambridge the houses to be let were few, and such as there were fell either below our pride or rose above our purse.
feltverbUS /felt/
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Indeed, in the spring of 1866 the impulse of expansion was not yet visibly felt anywhere; the enormous material growth that followed the civil war had not yet begun.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading In Cambridge the houses to be let were few, and such as there were fell either below our pride or rose above our purse.
financialadjectiveUS /fəˈnænʃəl/
involving financial matters
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
findverbUS /faɪnd/
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading We had expected to stay in Boston only until we could find a house in Old Cambridge.
followedverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊd/
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Indeed, in the spring of 1866 the impulse of expansion was not yet visibly felt anywhere; the enormous material growth that followed the civil war had not yet begun.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This was not so simple a matter as it might seem; for the ancient town had not yet quickened its scholarly pace to the modern step.
friendsnounUS /frendz/
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
futureadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtʃər/
yet to be or coming
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
growthnounUS /ɡroʊθ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading Indeed, in the spring of 1866 the impulse of expansion was not yet visibly felt anywhere; the enormous material growth that followed the civil war had not yet begun.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had expected to stay in Boston only until we could find a house in Old Cambridge.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading We had expected to stay in Boston only until we could find a house in Old Cambridge.
housesnounUS /ˈhaʊsəz/
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading In Cambridge the houses to be let were few, and such as there were fell either below our pride or rose above our purse.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpəls/
an instinctive motive
From this reading Indeed, in the spring of 1866 the impulse of expansion was not yet visibly felt anywhere; the enormous material growth that followed the civil war had not yet begun.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We had expected to stay in Boston only until we could find a house in Old Cambridge.
IndeedadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdiːd/
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed, in the spring of 1866 the impulse of expansion was not yet visibly felt anywhere; the enormous material growth that followed the civil war had not yet begun.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This was not so simple a matter as it might seem; for the ancient town had not yet quickened its scholarly pace to the modern step.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading This was not so simple a matter as it might seem; for the ancient town had not yet quickened its scholarly pace to the modern step.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading In Cambridge the houses to be let were few, and such as there were fell either below our pride or rose above our purse.
materialadjectiveUS /məˈtɪriəl/
concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests
From this reading Indeed, in the spring of 1866 the impulse of expansion was not yet visibly felt anywhere; the enormous material growth that followed the civil war had not yet begun.
matternounUS /ˈmætər/
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading This was not so simple a matter as it might seem; for the ancient town had not yet quickened its scholarly pace to the modern step.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading This was not so simple a matter as it might seem; for the ancient town had not yet quickened its scholarly pace to the modern step.
modernadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːdərn/
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading This was not so simple a matter as it might seem; for the ancient town had not yet quickened its scholarly pace to the modern step.
moneynounUS /ˈmʌni/
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This was not so simple a matter as it might seem; for the ancient town had not yet quickened its scholarly pace to the modern step.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Indeed, in the spring of 1866 the impulse of expansion was not yet visibly felt anywhere; the enormous material growth that followed the civil war had not yet begun.
OldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading We had expected to stay in Boston only until we could find a house in Old Cambridge.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading We had expected to stay in Boston only until we could find a house in Old Cambridge.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In Cambridge the houses to be let were few, and such as there were fell either below our pride or rose above our purse.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading In Cambridge the houses to be let were few, and such as there were fell either below our pride or rose above our purse.
pacenounUS /peɪs/
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading This was not so simple a matter as it might seem; for the ancient town had not yet quickened its scholarly pace to the modern step.
pridenounUS /praɪd/
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading In Cambridge the houses to be let were few, and such as there were fell either below our pride or rose above our purse.
pursenounUS /pɜːrs/
a container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women)
From this reading In Cambridge the houses to be let were few, and such as there were fell either below our pride or rose above our purse.
quickenedverbUS /ˈkwɪkənd/
past form of “quicken” — move faster
From this reading This was not so simple a matter as it might seem; for the ancient town had not yet quickened its scholarly pace to the modern step.
richadjectiveUS /rɪtʃ/
possessing material wealth
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
rosenounUS /roʊz/
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading In Cambridge the houses to be let were few, and such as there were fell either below our pride or rose above our purse.
scholarlyadjectiveUS /ˈskɑːlərli/
characteristic of scholars or scholarship
From this reading This was not so simple a matter as it might seem; for the ancient town had not yet quickened its scholarly pace to the modern step.
seemverbUS /siːm/
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading This was not so simple a matter as it might seem; for the ancient town had not yet quickened its scholarly pace to the modern step.
shrinkverbUS /ʃrɪŋk/
wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
simpleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪmpəl/
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading This was not so simple a matter as it might seem; for the ancient town had not yet quickened its scholarly pace to the modern step.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This was not so simple a matter as it might seem; for the ancient town had not yet quickened its scholarly pace to the modern step.
sometimesadverbUS /səmˈtaɪmz/
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
springnounUS /sprɪŋ/
the season of growth
From this reading Indeed, in the spring of 1866 the impulse of expansion was not yet visibly felt anywhere; the enormous material growth that followed the civil war had not yet begun.
stayverbUS /steɪ/
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading We had expected to stay in Boston only until we could find a house in Old Cambridge.
stepnounUS /step/
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading This was not so simple a matter as it might seem; for the ancient town had not yet quickened its scholarly pace to the modern step.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading In Cambridge the houses to be let were few, and such as there were fell either below our pride or rose above our purse.
tellverbUS /tel/
express in words
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Indeed, in the spring of 1866 the impulse of expansion was not yet visibly felt anywhere; the enormous material growth that followed the civil war had not yet begun.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This was not so simple a matter as it might seem; for the ancient town had not yet quickened its scholarly pace to the modern step.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading In Cambridge the houses to be let were few, and such as there were fell either below our pride or rose above our purse.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was not so simple a matter as it might seem; for the ancient town had not yet quickened its scholarly pace to the modern step.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We had expected to stay in Boston only until we could find a house in Old Cambridge.
townnounUS /taʊn/
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading This was not so simple a matter as it might seem; for the ancient town had not yet quickened its scholarly pace to the modern step.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading We had expected to stay in Boston only until we could find a house in Old Cambridge.
visiblyadverbUS /ˈvɪzəbli/
in a visible manner
From this reading Indeed, in the spring of 1866 the impulse of expansion was not yet visibly felt anywhere; the enormous material growth that followed the civil war had not yet begun.
warnounUS /wɔːr/
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading Indeed, in the spring of 1866 the impulse of expansion was not yet visibly felt anywhere; the enormous material growth that followed the civil war had not yet begun.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was not so simple a matter as it might seem; for the ancient town had not yet quickened its scholarly pace to the modern step.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We had expected to stay in Boston only until we could find a house in Old Cambridge.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In Cambridge the houses to be let were few, and such as there were fell either below our pride or rose above our purse.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
wishverbUS /wɪʃ/
hope for; have a wish
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I wish I might tell how at last we bought a house; we had no money, but we were rich in friends, who are still alive to shrink from the story of their constant faith in a financial future which we sometimes doubted, and who backed their credulity with their credit.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading This was not so simple a matter as it might seem; for the ancient town had not yet quickened its scholarly pace to the modern step.
