adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was only a mining-settlement of the most primitive description.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading One morning about eleven o'clock they came in sight of Murphy's.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
appearancenounUS /əˈpɪrəns/
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
ARRIVALnounUS /ərˈaɪvəl/
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading THE ARRIVAL AT MURPHY'S.
ATprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE ARRIVAL AT MURPHY'S.
beardedadjectiveUS /ˈbɪrdəd/
having hair on the cheeks and chin
From this reading A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
bestnounUS /best/
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
cabinsnounUS /ˈkæbənz/
plural of “cabin” — small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
Calaveras
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading One morning about eleven o'clock they came in sight of Murphy's.
claimsnounUS /kleɪmz/
plural of “claim” — an assertion of a right (as to money or property)
From this reading A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
descriptionnounUS /dɪˈskrɪpʃən/
a statement that represents something in words
From this reading It was only a mining-settlement of the most primitive description.
diggingsnoun
an excavation for ore or precious stones or for archaeology
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
elevenadjectiveUS /ɪˈlevən/
being one more than ten
From this reading One morning about eleven o'clock they came in sight of Murphy's.
exhaustedadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzɔːstɪd/
drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired; completely exhausted
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
famousadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪməs/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
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 A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
grovenounUS /ɡroʊv/
a small growth of trees without underbrush
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
hereadverbUS /hiːr/
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
importantadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɔːrtənt/
of great significance or value
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One morning about eleven o'clock they came in sight of Murphy's.
intentnounUS /ˌɪnˈtent/
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was only a mining-settlement of the most primitive description.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
known-to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
mining-settlement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only a mining-settlement of the most primitive description.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading One morning about eleven o'clock they came in sight of Murphy's.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading It was only a mining-settlement of the most primitive description.
MURPHY'SnounUS /ˈmɜːrfiz/
possessive form of “murphy” — an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland
From this reading THE ARRIVAL AT MURPHY'S.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading One morning about eleven o'clock they came in sight of Murphy's.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One morning about eleven o'clock they came in sight of Murphy's.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One morning about eleven o'clock they came in sight of Murphy's.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading It was only a mining-settlement of the most primitive description.
picturesqueadjectiveUS /ˈpɪktʃərəsk/
suggesting or suitable for a picture; pretty as a picture
From this reading A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
placenounUS /pleɪs/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
presentverbUS /ˈprezənt/
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
primitiveadjectiveUS /ˈprɪmətɪv/
belonging to an early stage of technical development; characterized by simplicity and (often) crudeness
From this reading It was only a mining-settlement of the most primitive description.
roughadjectiveUS /rʌf/
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
scatteredadjectiveUS /ˈskætərd/
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
sightnounUS /saɪt/
an instance of visual perception
From this reading One morning about eleven o'clock they came in sight of Murphy's.
surfacenounUS /ˈsɜːrfəs/
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
tentsnounUS /tents/
plural of “tent” — a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ARRIVAL AT MURPHY'S.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One morning about eleven o'clock they came in sight of Murphy's.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
treesnounUS /triːz/
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
vicinitynounUS /vəˈsɪnəti/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading It was then a more important place than at present, however, for the surface diggings are exhausted, and it is best known-to-day by its vicinity to the famous Calaveras grove of big trees.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was only a mining-settlement of the most primitive description.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
workingadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrkɪŋ/
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading A few tents and cabins, with rough, bearded men scattered here and there, intent upon working their claims, gave it a picturesque appearance, which it has lost now.
