used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The month of August was drawing to a close when I started southward.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At first I had to pass through noisy, dirty villages filled with crying children and many curs.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Beyond, travel was more pleasant, for the national highways are excellently built.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first I had to pass through noisy, dirty villages filled with crying children and many curs.
the month following July and preceding September
From this reading The month of August was drawing to a close when I started southward.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Beyond, travel was more pleasant, for the national highways are excellently built.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading Beyond, travel was more pleasant, for the national highways are excellently built.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But these roads wind and ramble like mountain streams.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading At first I had to pass through noisy, dirty villages filled with crying children and many curs.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The month of August was drawing to a close when I started southward.
demanding attention
From this reading At first I had to pass through noisy, dirty villages filled with crying children and many curs.
curs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first I had to pass through noisy, dirty villages filled with crying children and many curs.
dirtyadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrti/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading At first I had to pass through noisy, dirty villages filled with crying children and many curs.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading The month of August was drawing to a close when I started southward.
excellentlyadverbUS /ˈeksələntli/
extremely well
From this reading Beyond, travel was more pleasant, for the national highways are excellently built.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading At first I had to pass through noisy, dirty villages filled with crying children and many curs.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading At first I had to pass through noisy, dirty villages filled with crying children and many curs.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Beyond, travel was more pleasant, for the national highways are excellently built.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At first I had to pass through noisy, dirty villages filled with crying children and many curs.
only a very short time before
From this reading The heaviest rain raises hardly a layer of mud.
heaviestadjectiveUS /ˈheviəst/
superlative of “heavy” — of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The heaviest rain raises hardly a layer of mud.
highwaysnounUS /ˈhaɪweɪz/
plural of “highway” — a major road for any form of motor transport
From this reading Beyond, travel was more pleasant, for the national highways are excellently built.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The month of August was drawing to a close when I started southward.
layernounUS /ˈleɪər/
single thickness of usually some homogeneous substance
From this reading The heaviest rain raises hardly a layer of mud.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading But these roads wind and ramble like mountain streams.
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 At first I had to pass through noisy, dirty villages filled with crying children and many curs.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading The month of August was drawing to a close when I started southward.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Beyond, travel was more pleasant, for the national highways are excellently built.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading But these roads wind and ramble like mountain streams.
water soaked soil; soft wet earth
From this reading The heaviest rain raises hardly a layer of mud.
of or relating to or belonging to a nation or country
From this reading Beyond, travel was more pleasant, for the national highways are excellently built.
noisyadjectiveUS /ˈnɔɪzi/
full of or characterized by loud and nonmusical sounds
From this reading At first I had to pass through noisy, dirty villages filled with crying children and many curs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The month of August was drawing to a close when I started southward.
go across or through
From this reading At first I had to pass through noisy, dirty villages filled with crying children and many curs.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading Beyond, travel was more pleasant, for the national highways are excellently built.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The heaviest rain raises hardly a layer of mud.
raisesnounUS /ˈreɪzəz/
plural of “raise” — the amount a salary is increased
From this reading The heaviest rain raises hardly a layer of mud.
rambleverbUS /ˈræmbəl/
continue talking or writing in a desultory manner
From this reading But these roads wind and ramble like mountain streams.
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading But these roads wind and ramble like mountain streams.
southwardadverbUS /ˈsaʊθwərd/
toward the south
From this reading The month of August was drawing to a close when I started southward.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The month of August was drawing to a close when I started southward.
streamsnounUS /striːmz/
plural of “stream” — a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading But these roads wind and ramble like mountain streams.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The month of August was drawing to a close when I started southward.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading But these roads wind and ramble like mountain streams.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading At first I had to pass through noisy, dirty villages filled with crying children and many curs.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The month of August was drawing to a close when I started southward.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Beyond, travel was more pleasant, for the national highways are excellently built.
villagesnounUS /ˈvɪlədʒəz/
plural of “village” — a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading At first I had to pass through noisy, dirty villages filled with crying children and many curs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The month of August was drawing to a close when I started southward.
at the time that
From this reading The month of August was drawing to a close when I started southward.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading But these roads wind and ramble like mountain streams.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At first I had to pass through noisy, dirty villages filled with crying children and many curs.
