used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
alleysnounUS /ˈæliz/
plural of “alley” — a narrow street with walls on both sides
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading These people went dressed in shirts and pantaloons of coarse linen cloth, which they steeped in the blood of the animals they slaughtered.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
beltsnounUS /belts/
plural of “belt” — endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
From this reading They wore round caps, boots of hogskin drawn over their naked feet, and belts of raw hide, in which they stuck their sabres and knives.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading These people went dressed in shirts and pantaloons of coarse linen cloth, which they steeped in the blood of the animals they slaughtered.
plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading They wore round caps, boots of hogskin drawn over their naked feet, and belts of raw hide, in which they stuck their sabres and knives.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
capsnounUS /kæps/
plural of “cap” — a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading They wore round caps, boots of hogskin drawn over their naked feet, and belts of raw hide, in which they stuck their sabres and knives.
a period of 100 years
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
chieflyadverbUS /ˈtʃiːfli/
for the most part
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading These people went dressed in shirts and pantaloons of coarse linen cloth, which they steeped in the blood of the animals they slaughtered.
ConounUS /koʊ/
an odorless very poisonous gas that is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
coarseadjectiveUS /kɔːrs/
of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles
From this reading These people went dressed in shirts and pantaloons of coarse linen cloth, which they steeped in the blood of the animals they slaughtered.
colonistsnounUS /ˈkɑːlənɪsts/
plural of “colonist” — a person who settles in a new colony or moves into new country
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
communitynounUS /kəˈmjuːnəti/
a group of people living in a particular local area
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
contributionsnounUS /ˌkɑːntrəˈbjuːʃənz/
plural of “contribution” — the effort contributed by a person in bringing about a result
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
DomingonounUS /doʊˈmɪŋɡoʊ/
Spanish operatic tenor noted for performances in operas by Verdi and Puccini (born in 1941)
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading They wore round caps, boots of hogskin drawn over their naked feet, and belts of raw hide, in which they stuck their sabres and knives.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading These people went dressed in shirts and pantaloons of coarse linen cloth, which they steeped in the blood of the animals they slaughtered.
enlargedadjectiveUS /ˌenˈlɑːrdʒd/
(of an organ or body part) excessively enlarged as a result of increased size in the constituent cells
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
EuropeannounUS /ˌjʊrəˈpiːən/
a native or inhabitant of Europe
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading They wore round caps, boots of hogskin drawn over their naked feet, and belts of raw hide, in which they stuck their sabres and knives.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
filthyadjectiveUS /ˈfɪlθi/
disgustingly dirty; filled or smeared with offensive matter
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
hauntedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪd/
having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading They wore round caps, boots of hogskin drawn over their naked feet, and belts of raw hide, in which they stuck their sabres and knives.
HispaniolanounUS /hɪˌspɑːˈŋoʊlə/
an island in the West Indies
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
hogskin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They wore round caps, boots of hogskin drawn over their naked feet, and belts of raw hide, in which they stuck their sabres and knives.
https
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading See https://
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
knivesnounUS /naɪvz/
plural of “knife” — edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading They wore round caps, boots of hogskin drawn over their naked feet, and belts of raw hide, in which they stuck their sabres and knives.
liberaladjectiveUS /ˈlɪbɜːrəl/
showing or characterized by broad-mindedness
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
linennounUS /ˈlɪnən/
a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant
From this reading These people went dressed in shirts and pantaloons of coarse linen cloth, which they steeped in the blood of the animals they slaughtered.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
Macmillan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
the force of workers available
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
nakedadjectiveUS /ˈneɪkəd/
completely unclothed
From this reading They wore round caps, boots of hogskin drawn over their naked feet, and belts of raw hide, in which they stuck their sabres and knives.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading They wore round caps, boots of hogskin drawn over their naked feet, and belts of raw hide, in which they stuck their sabres and knives.
overrunverbUS /ˈoʊvərrʌn/
invade in great numbers
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
pantaloonsnounUS /ˈpæntəluːnz/
plural of “pantaloon” — a buffoon in modern pantomimes; the butt of jokes
From this reading These people went dressed in shirts and pantaloons of coarse linen cloth, which they steeped in the blood of the animals they slaughtered.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading These people went dressed in shirts and pantaloons of coarse linen cloth, which they steeped in the blood of the animals they slaughtered.
ranksnounUS /ræŋks/
plural of “rank” — a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
rawadjectiveUS /rɑː/
(used especially of commodities) being unprocessed or manufactured using only simple or minimal processes
From this reading They wore round caps, boots of hogskin drawn over their naked feet, and belts of raw hide, in which they stuck their sabres and knives.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading They wore round caps, boots of hogskin drawn over their naked feet, and belts of raw hide, in which they stuck their sabres and knives.
sabresnounUS /ˈseɪbərz/
plural of “sabre” — a fencing sword with a v-shaped blade and a slightly curved handle
From this reading They wore round caps, boots of hogskin drawn over their naked feet, and belts of raw hide, in which they stuck their sabres and knives.
San
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading See https://
seventeenthadjectiveUS /ˈsevənˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the sixteenth in position
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
shirtsnounUS /ʃɜːrts/
plural of “shirt” — a garment worn on the upper half of the body
From this reading These people went dressed in shirts and pantaloons of coarse linen cloth, which they steeped in the blood of the animals they slaughtered.
unusual or striking
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
slaughteredverbUS /ˈslɔːtərd/
past form of “slaughter” — kill (animals) usually for food consumption
From this reading These people went dressed in shirts and pantaloons of coarse linen cloth, which they steeped in the blood of the animals they slaughtered.
slumsnounUS /slʌmz/
plural of “slum” — a district of a city marked by poverty and inferior living conditions
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
steepedverbUS /stiːpt/
past form of “steep” — devote (oneself) fully to
From this reading These people went dressed in shirts and pantaloons of coarse linen cloth, which they steeped in the blood of the animals they slaughtered.
caught or fixed
From this reading They wore round caps, boots of hogskin drawn over their naked feet, and belts of raw hide, in which they stuck their sabres and knives.
surlyadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrli/
inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They wore round caps, boots of hogskin drawn over their naked feet, and belts of raw hide, in which they stuck their sabres and knives.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These people went dressed in shirts and pantaloons of coarse linen cloth, which they steeped in the blood of the animals they slaughtered.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading These people went dressed in shirts and pantaloons of coarse linen cloth, which they steeped in the blood of the animals they slaughtered.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading These people went dressed in shirts and pantaloons of coarse linen cloth, which they steeped in the blood of the animals they slaughtered.
belonging to which person
From this reading They were chiefly composed of French colonists, whose ranks had from time to time been enlarged by liberal contributions from the slums and alleys of more than one European city and town.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading They wore round caps, boots of hogskin drawn over their naked feet, and belts of raw hide, in which they stuck their sabres and knives.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading London Macmillan and Co. And New York In or about the middle of the seventeenth century the island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola as it was then called, was haunted and overrun by a singular community of savage, surly, fierce, and filthy men.
