used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading ’I come, by Madonna’s secret instructions, from privately informing Messer Lanti where Messer Bembo lies hidden,’ he said, speaking as if by rote.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He backed at once.
backedadjectiveUS /bækt/
having a back or backing, usually of a specified type
From this reading He backed at once.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
Bembo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’I come, by Madonna’s secret instructions, from privately informing Messer Lanti where Messer Bembo lies hidden,’ he said, speaking as if by rote.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
breatheverbUS /briːð/
draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs
From this reading ’Now,’ she said, ’I can breathe.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading ’I come, by Madonna’s secret instructions, from privately informing Messer Lanti where Messer Bembo lies hidden,’ he said, speaking as if by rote.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading ’Now,’ she said, ’I can breathe.
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
chirpingverbUS /ˈtʃɜːrpɪŋ/
-ing form of “chirp” — make high-pitched sounds
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading ’I come, by Madonna’s secret instructions, from privately informing Messer Lanti where Messer Bembo lies hidden,’ he said, speaking as if by rote.
concentratingverbUS /ˈkɑːnsəntreɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “concentrate” — make denser, stronger, or purer
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
DeliververbUS /dɪˈlɪvər/
deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)
From this reading Deliver yourself!’
flickeringadjectiveUS /ˈflɪkərɪŋ/
shining unsteadily
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading ’I come, by Madonna’s secret instructions, from privately informing Messer Lanti where Messer Bembo lies hidden,’ he said, speaking as if by rote.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He backed at once.
heavedverbUS /hiːvd/
past form of “heave” — utter a sound, as with obvious effort
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
not accessible to view
From this reading ’I come, by Madonna’s secret instructions, from privately informing Messer Lanti where Messer Bembo lies hidden,’ he said, speaking as if by rote.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ’Now,’ she said, ’I can breathe.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading ’I come, by Madonna’s secret instructions, from privately informing Messer Lanti where Messer Bembo lies hidden,’ he said, speaking as if by rote.
informingnounUS /ˌɪnˈfɔːrmɪŋ/
to furnish incriminating evidence to an officer of the law (usually in return for favors)
From this reading ’I come, by Madonna’s secret instructions, from privately informing Messer Lanti where Messer Bembo lies hidden,’ he said, speaking as if by rote.
instructionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃənz/
a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it
From this reading ’I come, by Madonna’s secret instructions, from privately informing Messer Lanti where Messer Bembo lies hidden,’ he said, speaking as if by rote.
Lanti
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’I come, by Madonna’s secret instructions, from privately informing Messer Lanti where Messer Bembo lies hidden,’ he said, speaking as if by rote.
plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
From this reading ’I come, by Madonna’s secret instructions, from privately informing Messer Lanti where Messer Bembo lies hidden,’ he said, speaking as if by rote.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
loopverbUS /luːp/
move in loops
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
Madonna'snounUS /məˈdɑːnəz/
possessive form of “madonna” — the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading ’I come, by Madonna’s secret instructions, from privately informing Messer Lanti where Messer Bembo lies hidden,’ he said, speaking as if by rote.
Messer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’I come, by Madonna’s secret instructions, from privately informing Messer Lanti where Messer Bembo lies hidden,’ he said, speaking as if by rote.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading ’Now,’ she said, ’I can breathe.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
on one occasion
From this reading He backed at once.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
privatelyadverbUS /ˈpraɪvətli/
kept private or confined to those intimately concerned
From this reading ’I come, by Madonna’s secret instructions, from privately informing Messer Lanti where Messer Bembo lies hidden,’ he said, speaking as if by rote.
rotenounUS /roʊt/
memorization by repetition
From this reading ’I come, by Madonna’s secret instructions, from privately informing Messer Lanti where Messer Bembo lies hidden,’ he said, speaking as if by rote.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading ’Now,’ she said, ’I can breathe.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading ’I come, by Madonna’s secret instructions, from privately informing Messer Lanti where Messer Bembo lies hidden,’ he said, speaking as if by rote.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ’Now,’ she said, ’I can breathe.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading ’I come, by Madonna’s secret instructions, from privately informing Messer Lanti where Messer Bembo lies hidden,’ he said, speaking as if by rote.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
in or at the place that
From this reading ’I come, by Madonna’s secret instructions, from privately informing Messer Lanti where Messer Bembo lies hidden,’ he said, speaking as if by rote.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
witsnounUS /wɪts/
the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception
From this reading He heaved up his chest, and looked above her, concentrating his wits on an open loop of the tent, behind which a bird was flickering and chirping.
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading Deliver yourself!’
