adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE ANICIANS Not many days after, in a still noontide of mellow autumn, Basil and Marcian drew towards Rome.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They rode along the Via Appia, between the tombs of ancient men; all about them, undulant to the far horizon, a brown wilderness dotted with ruins.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading THE ANICIANS Not many days after, in a still noontide of mellow autumn, Basil and Marcian drew towards Rome.
agesnounUS /ˈeɪdʒəz/
plural of “age” — how long something has existed
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
agoadverbUS /əˈɡoʊ/
in the past
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 They rode along the Via Appia, between the tombs of ancient men; all about them, undulant to the far horizon, a brown wilderness dotted with ruins.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading They rode along the Via Appia, between the tombs of ancient men; all about them, undulant to the far horizon, a brown wilderness dotted with ruins.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading Olives in scant patches, a lost vineyard, a speck of tilled soil, proved that men still laboured amid this vast and awful silence, but rarely was a human figure visible.
ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading They rode along the Via Appia, between the tombs of ancient men; all about them, undulant to the far horizon, a brown wilderness dotted with ruins.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE ANICIANS Not many days after, in a still noontide of mellow autumn, Basil and Marcian drew towards Rome.
ANICIANS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ANICIANS Not many days after, in a still noontide of mellow autumn, Basil and Marcian drew towards Rome.
Appia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They rode along the Via Appia, between the tombs of ancient men; all about them, undulant to the far horizon, a brown wilderness dotted with ruins.
approachedverbUS /əˈproʊtʃt/
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
aqueductsnounUS /ˈækwədʌkts/
plural of “aqueduct” — a conduit that resembles a bridge but carries water over a valley
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
autumnnounUS /ˈɔːtəm/
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading THE ANICIANS Not many days after, in a still noontide of mellow autumn, Basil and Marcian drew towards Rome.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading Olives in scant patches, a lost vineyard, a speck of tilled soil, proved that men still laboured amid this vast and awful silence, but rarely was a human figure visible.
BasilnounUS /ˈbæzəl/
any of several Old World tropical aromatic annual or perennial herbs of the genus Ocimum
From this reading THE ANICIANS Not many days after, in a still noontide of mellow autumn, Basil and Marcian drew towards Rome.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading They rode along the Via Appia, between the tombs of ancient men; all about them, undulant to the far horizon, a brown wilderness dotted with ruins.
broughtverbUS /brɔːt/
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
brownnounUS /braʊn/
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading They rode along the Via Appia, between the tombs of ancient men; all about them, undulant to the far horizon, a brown wilderness dotted with ruins.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Olives in scant patches, a lost vineyard, a speck of tilled soil, proved that men still laboured amid this vast and awful silence, but rarely was a human figure visible.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
causingnounUS /ˈkɑːzɪŋ/
the act of causing something to happen
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
churchnounUS /tʃɜːrtʃ/
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading Ruins of villas, of farms, of temples, with here and there a church or a monastery that told of the newer time.
citynounUS /ˈsɪti/
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
cleftnounUS /kleft/
a split or indentation in something (as the palate or chin)
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
daysnounUS /deɪz/
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading THE ANICIANS Not many days after, in a still noontide of mellow autumn, Basil and Marcian drew towards Rome.
dottedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːtəd/
having a pattern of dots
From this reading They rode along the Via Appia, between the tombs of ancient men; all about them, undulant to the far horizon, a brown wilderness dotted with ruins.
drewnounUS /druː/
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading THE ANICIANS Not many days after, in a still noontide of mellow autumn, Basil and Marcian drew towards Rome.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
faradverbUS /fɑːr/
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading They rode along the Via Appia, between the tombs of ancient men; all about them, undulant to the far horizon, a brown wilderness dotted with ruins.
farmsnounUS /fɑːrmz/
plural of “farm” — workplace consisting of farm buildings and cultivated land as a unit
From this reading Ruins of villas, of farms, of temples, with here and there a church or a monastery that told of the newer time.
figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Olives in scant patches, a lost vineyard, a speck of tilled soil, proved that men still laboured amid this vast and awful silence, but rarely was a human figure visible.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
fournounUS /fɔːr/
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
glanceverbUS /ɡlæns/
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
Goths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
groundnounUS /ɡraʊnd/
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
hereadverbUS /hiːr/
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Ruins of villas, of farms, of temples, with here and there a church or a monastery that told of the newer time.
hillsnounUS /hɪlz/
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
horizonnounUS /hərˈaɪzən/
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading They rode along the Via Appia, between the tombs of ancient men; all about them, undulant to the far horizon, a brown wilderness dotted with ruins.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Olives in scant patches, a lost vineyard, a speck of tilled soil, proved that men still laboured amid this vast and awful silence, but rarely was a human figure visible.
idleadjectiveUS /ˈaɪdəl/
not in action or at work
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE ANICIANS Not many days after, in a still noontide of mellow autumn, Basil and Marcian drew towards Rome.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
labouredadjective
lacking natural ease
From this reading Olives in scant patches, a lost vineyard, a speck of tilled soil, proved that men still laboured amid this vast and awful silence, but rarely was a human figure visible.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Olives in scant patches, a lost vineyard, a speck of tilled soil, proved that men still laboured amid this vast and awful silence, but rarely was a human figure visible.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading THE ANICIANS Not many days after, in a still noontide of mellow autumn, Basil and Marcian drew towards Rome.
Marcian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ANICIANS Not many days after, in a still noontide of mellow autumn, Basil and Marcian drew towards Rome.
marshyadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːrʃi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
mellowadjectiveUS /ˈmeloʊ/
unhurried and relaxed
From this reading THE ANICIANS Not many days after, in a still noontide of mellow autumn, Basil and Marcian drew towards Rome.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading They rode along the Via Appia, between the tombs of ancient men; all about them, undulant to the far horizon, a brown wilderness dotted with ruins.
monasterynounUS /ˈmɑːnəsteri/
the residence of a religious community
From this reading Ruins of villas, of farms, of temples, with here and there a church or a monastery that told of the newer time.
neweradjectiveUS /ˈnuːər/
comparative of “new” — not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Ruins of villas, of farms, of temples, with here and there a church or a monastery that told of the newer time.
noontidenoun
the middle of the day
From this reading THE ANICIANS Not many days after, in a still noontide of mellow autumn, Basil and Marcian drew towards Rome.
NotadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE ANICIANS Not many days after, in a still noontide of mellow autumn, Basil and Marcian drew towards Rome.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE ANICIANS Not many days after, in a still noontide of mellow autumn, Basil and Marcian drew towards Rome.
OlivesnounUS /ˈɑːlɪvz/
plural of “olive” — small ovoid fruit of the European olive tree; important food and source of oil
From this reading Olives in scant patches, a lost vineyard, a speck of tilled soil, proved that men still laboured amid this vast and awful silence, but rarely was a human figure visible.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Ruins of villas, of farms, of temples, with here and there a church or a monastery that told of the newer time.
patchesnounUS /ˈpætʃəz/
plural of “patch” — a small contrasting part of something
From this reading Olives in scant patches, a lost vineyard, a speck of tilled soil, proved that men still laboured amid this vast and awful silence, but rarely was a human figure visible.
poolsnounUS /puːlz/
plural of “pool” — an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
provedadjectiveUS /pruːvd/
established beyond doubt
From this reading Olives in scant patches, a lost vineyard, a speck of tilled soil, proved that men still laboured amid this vast and awful silence, but rarely was a human figure visible.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading Olives in scant patches, a lost vineyard, a speck of tilled soil, proved that men still laboured amid this vast and awful silence, but rarely was a human figure visible.
rodeverbUS /roʊd/
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading They rode along the Via Appia, between the tombs of ancient men; all about them, undulant to the far horizon, a brown wilderness dotted with ruins.
RomenounUS /roʊm/
capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire
From this reading THE ANICIANS Not many days after, in a still noontide of mellow autumn, Basil and Marcian drew towards Rome.
ruinsnounUS /ˈruːənz/
plural of “ruin” — an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading They rode along the Via Appia, between the tombs of ancient men; all about them, undulant to the far horizon, a brown wilderness dotted with ruins.
sadlyadverbUS /ˈsædli/
in an unfortunate way
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
scantadjectiveUS /skænt/
less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
From this reading Olives in scant patches, a lost vineyard, a speck of tilled soil, proved that men still laboured amid this vast and awful silence, but rarely was a human figure visible.
siegenounUS /siːdʒ/
the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Olives in scant patches, a lost vineyard, a speck of tilled soil, proved that men still laboured amid this vast and awful silence, but rarely was a human figure visible.
soilnounUS /sɔɪl/
the state of being covered with unclean things
From this reading Olives in scant patches, a lost vineyard, a speck of tilled soil, proved that men still laboured amid this vast and awful silence, but rarely was a human figure visible.
specknounUS /spek/
a very small spot
From this reading Olives in scant patches, a lost vineyard, a speck of tilled soil, proved that men still laboured amid this vast and awful silence, but rarely was a human figure visible.
stagnantadjectiveUS /ˈstæɡnənt/
not circulating or flowing
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading THE ANICIANS Not many days after, in a still noontide of mellow autumn, Basil and Marcian drew towards Rome.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
templesnounUS /ˈtempəlz/
plural of “temple” — place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity
From this reading Ruins of villas, of farms, of temples, with here and there a church or a monastery that told of the newer time.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Ruins of villas, of farms, of temples, with here and there a church or a monastery that told of the newer time.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ANICIANS Not many days after, in a still noontide of mellow autumn, Basil and Marcian drew towards Rome.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They rode along the Via Appia, between the tombs of ancient men; all about them, undulant to the far horizon, a brown wilderness dotted with ruins.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Ruins of villas, of farms, of temples, with here and there a church or a monastery that told of the newer time.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They rode along the Via Appia, between the tombs of ancient men; all about them, undulant to the far horizon, a brown wilderness dotted with ruins.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Olives in scant patches, a lost vineyard, a speck of tilled soil, proved that men still laboured amid this vast and awful silence, but rarely was a human figure visible.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
tilledadjective
turned or stirred by plowing or harrowing or hoeing
From this reading Olives in scant patches, a lost vineyard, a speck of tilled soil, proved that men still laboured amid this vast and awful silence, but rarely was a human figure visible.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Ruins of villas, of farms, of temples, with here and there a church or a monastery that told of the newer time.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They rode along the Via Appia, between the tombs of ancient men; all about them, undulant to the far horizon, a brown wilderness dotted with ruins.
toldverbUS /toʊld/
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Ruins of villas, of farms, of temples, with here and there a church or a monastery that told of the newer time.
tombsnounUS /tuːmz/
plural of “tomb” — a place for the burial of a corpse (especially beneath the ground and marked by a tombstone)
From this reading They rode along the Via Appia, between the tombs of ancient men; all about them, undulant to the far horizon, a brown wilderness dotted with ruins.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading THE ANICIANS Not many days after, in a still noontide of mellow autumn, Basil and Marcian drew towards Rome.
undulantadjective
resembling waves in form or outline or motion
From this reading They rode along the Via Appia, between the tombs of ancient men; all about them, undulant to the far horizon, a brown wilderness dotted with ruins.
vastadjectiveUS /væst/
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Olives in scant patches, a lost vineyard, a speck of tilled soil, proved that men still laboured amid this vast and awful silence, but rarely was a human figure visible.
ViaprepositionUS /ˈvaɪə/
by way of; passing through
From this reading They rode along the Via Appia, between the tombs of ancient men; all about them, undulant to the far horizon, a brown wilderness dotted with ruins.
villasnounUS /ˈvɪləz/
plural of “villa” — Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)
From this reading Ruins of villas, of farms, of temples, with here and there a church or a monastery that told of the newer time.
vineyardnounUS /ˈvɪnjərd/
a farm of grapevines where wine grapes are produced
From this reading Olives in scant patches, a lost vineyard, a speck of tilled soil, proved that men still laboured amid this vast and awful silence, but rarely was a human figure visible.
visibleadjectiveUS /ˈvɪzəbəl/
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading Olives in scant patches, a lost vineyard, a speck of tilled soil, proved that men still laboured amid this vast and awful silence, but rarely was a human figure visible.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Olives in scant patches, a lost vineyard, a speck of tilled soil, proved that men still laboured amid this vast and awful silence, but rarely was a human figure visible.
waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
(politics) a state of disfavor
From this reading They rode along the Via Appia, between the tombs of ancient men; all about them, undulant to the far horizon, a brown wilderness dotted with ruins.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading They rode along the Via Appia, between the tombs of ancient men; all about them, undulant to the far horizon, a brown wilderness dotted with ruins.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading As they approached the city, marshy ground and stagnant pools lay on either hand, causing them to glance sadly at those great aqueducts, which for ages had brought water into Rome from the hills and now stood idle, cleft by the Goths during the siege four years ago.
