used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To his earnest soul this was a darkness, a mockery, an abomination.
abominationnounUS /əˌbɑːməˈneɪʃən/
a person who is loathsome or disgusting
From this reading To his earnest soul this was a darkness, a mockery, an abomination.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading To his earnest soul this was a darkness, a mockery, an abomination.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
assailverbUS /əˈseɪl/
attack someone physically or emotionally
From this reading Therefore he went out from Mecca that he might gather strength to assail the black wooden idols of the Koreish, and when he returned he broke them in pieces.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
lacking funds
From this reading Therefore he went out from Mecca that he might gather strength to assail the black wooden idols of the Koreish, and when he returned he broke them in pieces.
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading To his earnest soul this was a darkness, a mockery, an abomination.
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
From this reading To his earnest soul this was a darkness, a mockery, an abomination.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading God was great, and there was nothing else great.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Therefore he went out from Mecca that he might gather strength to assail the black wooden idols of the Koreish, and when he returned he broke them in pieces.
assemble or get together
From this reading Therefore he went out from Mecca that he might gather strength to assail the black wooden idols of the Koreish, and when he returned he broke them in pieces.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading There was only one god, and that was God.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading God was great, and there was nothing else great.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Therefore he went out from Mecca that he might gather strength to assail the black wooden idols of the Koreish, and when he returned he broke them in pieces.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading To his earnest soul this was a darkness, a mockery, an abomination.
idolsnounUS /ˈaɪdəlz/
plural of “idol” — a material effigy that is worshipped
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
IshmaelnounUS /ˈɪʃmil/
(Old Testament) the son of Abraham who was cast out after the birth of Isaac; considered the forebear of 12 Arabian tribes
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
Koreish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
MeccanounUS /ˈmekə/
joint capital (with Riyadh) of Saudi Arabia; located in western Saudi Arabia; as the birthplace of Muhammad it is the holiest city of Islam
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
the force of workers available
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Therefore he went out from Mecca that he might gather strength to assail the black wooden idols of the Koreish, and when he returned he broke them in pieces.
mockerynounUS /ˈmɑːkəri/
showing your contempt by derision
From this reading To his earnest soul this was a darkness, a mockery, an abomination.
MohammednounUS /moʊˈhæmɪd/
the Arab prophet who, according to Islam, was the last messenger of Allah (570-632)
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading God was great, and there was nothing else great.
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There was only one god, and that was God.
and nothing more
From this reading There was only one god, and that was God.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Therefore he went out from Mecca that he might gather strength to assail the black wooden idols of the Koreish, and when he returned he broke them in pieces.
the state prevailing during the absence of war
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading Therefore he went out from Mecca that he might gather strength to assail the black wooden idols of the Koreish, and when he returned he broke them in pieces.
the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Therefore he went out from Mecca that he might gather strength to assail the black wooden idols of the Koreish, and when he returned he broke them in pieces.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading To his earnest soul this was a darkness, a mockery, an abomination.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading Therefore he went out from Mecca that he might gather strength to assail the black wooden idols of the Koreish, and when he returned he broke them in pieces.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was only one god, and that was God.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Therefore he went out from Mecca that he might gather strength to assail the black wooden idols of the Koreish, and when he returned he broke them in pieces.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was only one god, and that was God.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Therefore he went out from Mecca that he might gather strength to assail the black wooden idols of the Koreish, and when he returned he broke them in pieces.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading To his earnest soul this was a darkness, a mockery, an abomination.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To his earnest soul this was a darkness, a mockery, an abomination.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Therefore he went out from Mecca that he might gather strength to assail the black wooden idols of the Koreish, and when he returned he broke them in pieces.
at the time that
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
worshippedadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrʃəpt/
regarded with deep or rapturous love (especially as if for a god)
From this reading "O my brothers," cried Ishmael, "when Mohammed (to him be prayer and peace) arose in Mecca, men worshipped the black wooden idols of the Koreish.
