used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
adnounUS /æd/
a public promotion of some product or service
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
Amru
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Maksoud is a notoriously wretched marksman," observed the sultan as he fingered the leaden slug which Amru, his white-haired wazir, had retrieved from the tiled floor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
Angor-lana
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
arabesques
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Maksoud is a notoriously wretched marksman," observed the sultan as he fingered the leaden slug which Amru, his white-haired wazir, had retrieved from the tiled floor.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Still, with enough trials----" The sultan thrust his cushions a sword's length to the right, and moved just far enough to be secure against further rifle fire from the minaret of the neighboring mosque.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "It might not have been the son of your brother," suggested Amru, as he moved the fuming nargileh to the sultan's new position, and offered him the carved jade stem.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
bitsnounUS /bɪts/
plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
the people of Great Britain
From this reading "With enough trials," resumed Schamas ad Din, "Maksoud may not have to wait for the British Resident to find a pretext to depose me."
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading "It might not have been the son of your brother," suggested Amru, as he moved the fuming nargileh to the sultan's new position, and offered him the carved jade stem.
bulletnounUS /ˈbʊlət/
a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
carvedadjectiveUS /kɑːrvd/
made for or formed by carving (“carven” is archaic or literary)
From this reading "It might not have been the son of your brother," suggested Amru, as he moved the fuming nargileh to the sultan's new position, and offered him the carved jade stem.
chiseledadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪzəld/
having a clean and distinct outline as if precisely cut along the edges
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
cushionsnounUS /ˈkʊʃənz/
plural of “cushion” — a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses
From this reading "Still, with enough trials----" The sultan thrust his cushions a sword's length to the right, and moved just far enough to be secure against further rifle fire from the minaret of the neighboring mosque.
deposeverbUS /dɪˈpoʊz/
force to leave (an office)
From this reading "With enough trials," resumed Schamas ad Din, "Maksoud may not have to wait for the British Resident to find a pretext to depose me."
DinnounUS /dɪn/
a loud harsh or strident noise
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading "Still, with enough trials----" The sultan thrust his cushions a sword's length to the right, and moved just far enough to be secure against further rifle fire from the minaret of the neighboring mosque.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading "Still, with enough trials----" The sultan thrust his cushions a sword's length to the right, and moved just far enough to be secure against further rifle fire from the minaret of the neighboring mosque.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading "With enough trials," resumed Schamas ad Din, "Maksoud may not have to wait for the British Resident to find a pretext to depose me."
fingeredadjectiveUS /ˈfɪŋɡərd/
having or resembling a finger or fingers; often used in combination
From this reading "Maksoud is a notoriously wretched marksman," observed the sultan as he fingered the leaden slug which Amru, his white-haired wazir, had retrieved from the tiled floor.
start firing a weapon
From this reading "Still, with enough trials----" The sultan thrust his cushions a sword's length to the right, and moved just far enough to be secure against further rifle fire from the minaret of the neighboring mosque.
flattenedadjectiveUS /ˈflætənd/
having been flattened
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading "Maksoud is a notoriously wretched marksman," observed the sultan as he fingered the leaden slug which Amru, his white-haired wazir, had retrieved from the tiled floor.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "With enough trials," resumed Schamas ad Din, "Maksoud may not have to wait for the British Resident to find a pretext to depose me."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "Maksoud is a notoriously wretched marksman," observed the sultan as he fingered the leaden slug which Amru, his white-haired wazir, had retrieved from the tiled floor.
fumingverbUS /ˈfjuːmɪŋ/
-ing form of “fume” — be mad, angry, or furious
From this reading "It might not have been the son of your brother," suggested Amru, as he moved the fuming nargileh to the sultan's new position, and offered him the carved jade stem.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading "Still, with enough trials----" The sultan thrust his cushions a sword's length to the right, and moved just far enough to be secure against further rifle fire from the minaret of the neighboring mosque.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Maksoud is a notoriously wretched marksman," observed the sultan as he fingered the leaden slug which Amru, his white-haired wazir, had retrieved from the tiled floor.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "With enough trials," resumed Schamas ad Din, "Maksoud may not have to wait for the British Resident to find a pretext to depose me."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Maksoud is a notoriously wretched marksman," observed the sultan as he fingered the leaden slug which Amru, his white-haired wazir, had retrieved from the tiled floor.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Maksoud is a notoriously wretched marksman," observed the sultan as he fingered the leaden slug which Amru, his white-haired wazir, had retrieved from the tiled floor.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Maksoud is a notoriously wretched marksman," observed the sultan as he fingered the leaden slug which Amru, his white-haired wazir, had retrieved from the tiled floor.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It might not have been the son of your brother," suggested Amru, as he moved the fuming nargileh to the sultan's new position, and offered him the carved jade stem.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
jadenounUS /dʒeɪd/
a semiprecious gemstone that takes a high polish; is usually green but sometimes whitish; consists of jadeite or nephrite
From this reading "It might not have been the son of your brother," suggested Amru, as he moved the fuming nargileh to the sultan's new position, and offered him the carved jade stem.
and nothing more
From this reading "Still, with enough trials----" The sultan thrust his cushions a sword's length to the right, and moved just far enough to be secure against further rifle fire from the minaret of the neighboring mosque.
take somebody somewhere
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
leadenadjectiveUS /ˈledən/
darkened with overcast
From this reading "Maksoud is a notoriously wretched marksman," observed the sultan as he fingered the leaden slug which Amru, his white-haired wazir, had retrieved from the tiled floor.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading "Still, with enough trials----" The sultan thrust his cushions a sword's length to the right, and moved just far enough to be secure against further rifle fire from the minaret of the neighboring mosque.
Maksoud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Maksoud is a notoriously wretched marksman," observed the sultan as he fingered the leaden slug which Amru, his white-haired wazir, had retrieved from the tiled floor.
a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
marksmannounUS /ˈmɑːrksmən/
someone skilled in shooting
From this reading "Maksoud is a notoriously wretched marksman," observed the sultan as he fingered the leaden slug which Amru, his white-haired wazir, had retrieved from the tiled floor.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "With enough trials," resumed Schamas ad Din, "Maksoud may not have to wait for the British Resident to find a pretext to depose me."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "With enough trials," resumed Schamas ad Din, "Maksoud may not have to wait for the British Resident to find a pretext to depose me."
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading "It might not have been the son of your brother," suggested Amru, as he moved the fuming nargileh to the sultan's new position, and offered him the carved jade stem.
minaretnounUS /ˌmɪnərˈet/
slender tower with balconies
From this reading "Still, with enough trials----" The sultan thrust his cushions a sword's length to the right, and moved just far enough to be secure against further rifle fire from the minaret of the neighboring mosque.
mosquenounUS /mɑːsk/
(Islam) a Muslim place of worship that usually has a minaret
From this reading "Still, with enough trials----" The sultan thrust his cushions a sword's length to the right, and moved just far enough to be secure against further rifle fire from the minaret of the neighboring mosque.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading "Still, with enough trials----" The sultan thrust his cushions a sword's length to the right, and moved just far enough to be secure against further rifle fire from the minaret of the neighboring mosque.
nargilehnoun
an oriental tobacco pipe with a long flexible tube connected to a container where the smoke is cooled by passing through water
From this reading "It might not have been the son of your brother," suggested Amru, as he moved the fuming nargileh to the sultan's new position, and offered him the carved jade stem.
neighboringadjectiveUS /ˈneɪbərɪŋ/
having a common boundary or edge; abutting; touching
From this reading "Still, with enough trials----" The sultan thrust his cushions a sword's length to the right, and moved just far enough to be secure against further rifle fire from the minaret of the neighboring mosque.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading "It might not have been the son of your brother," suggested Amru, as he moved the fuming nargileh to the sultan's new position, and offered him the carved jade stem.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "With enough trials," resumed Schamas ad Din, "Maksoud may not have to wait for the British Resident to find a pretext to depose me."
notoriouslyadverbUS /noʊˈtɔːriəsli/
to a notorious degree
From this reading "Maksoud is a notoriously wretched marksman," observed the sultan as he fingered the leaden slug which Amru, his white-haired wazir, had retrieved from the tiled floor.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading "Maksoud is a notoriously wretched marksman," observed the sultan as he fingered the leaden slug which Amru, his white-haired wazir, had retrieved from the tiled floor.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading "It might not have been the son of your brother," suggested Amru, as he moved the fuming nargileh to the sultan's new position, and offered him the carved jade stem.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading "It might not have been the son of your brother," suggested Amru, as he moved the fuming nargileh to the sultan's new position, and offered him the carved jade stem.
pretextnounUS /ˈpriːtekst/
something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason
From this reading "With enough trials," resumed Schamas ad Din, "Maksoud may not have to wait for the British Resident to find a pretext to depose me."
ResidentadjectiveUS /ˈrezɪdənt/
living in a particular place
From this reading "With enough trials," resumed Schamas ad Din, "Maksoud may not have to wait for the British Resident to find a pretext to depose me."
past form of “resume” — take up or begin anew
From this reading "With enough trials," resumed Schamas ad Din, "Maksoud may not have to wait for the British Resident to find a pretext to depose me."
retrievedverbUS /rɪˈtriːvd/
Got or brought back something that was lost or hidden.
From this reading "Maksoud is a notoriously wretched marksman," observed the sultan as he fingered the leaden slug which Amru, his white-haired wazir, had retrieved from the tiled floor.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading "Still, with enough trials----" The sultan thrust his cushions a sword's length to the right, and moved just far enough to be secure against further rifle fire from the minaret of the neighboring mosque.
precisely, exactly
From this reading "Still, with enough trials----" The sultan thrust his cushions a sword's length to the right, and moved just far enough to be secure against further rifle fire from the minaret of the neighboring mosque.
Schamas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
get by special effort
From this reading "Still, with enough trials----" The sultan thrust his cushions a sword's length to the right, and moved just far enough to be secure against further rifle fire from the minaret of the neighboring mosque.
slugnounUS /slʌɡ/
a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading "Maksoud is a notoriously wretched marksman," observed the sultan as he fingered the leaden slug which Amru, his white-haired wazir, had retrieved from the tiled floor.
a male human offspring
From this reading "It might not have been the son of your brother," suggested Amru, as he moved the fuming nargileh to the sultan's new position, and offered him the carved jade stem.
spatteringnounUS /ˈspætərɪŋ/
the noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
splintersnounUS /ˈsplɪntərz/
wood in small pieces or splinters
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
stemnounUS /stem/
(linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed
From this reading "It might not have been the son of your brother," suggested Amru, as he moved the fuming nargileh to the sultan's new position, and offered him the carved jade stem.
not in physical motion
From this reading "Still, with enough trials----" The sultan thrust his cushions a sword's length to the right, and moved just far enough to be secure against further rifle fire from the minaret of the neighboring mosque.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading "It might not have been the son of your brother," suggested Amru, as he moved the fuming nargileh to the sultan's new position, and offered him the carved jade stem.
SultannounUS /ˈsʌl.tən/
A noble monarch or supreme sovereign ruler of an Islamic country or empire.
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
sultan'snounUS /ˈsʌltənz/
possessive form of “sultan” — the ruler of a Muslim country (especially of the former Ottoman Empire)
From this reading "It might not have been the son of your brother," suggested Amru, as he moved the fuming nargileh to the sultan's new position, and offered him the carved jade stem.
sword's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Still, with enough trials----" The sultan thrust his cushions a sword's length to the right, and moved just far enough to be secure against further rifle fire from the minaret of the neighboring mosque.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
push forcefully
From this reading "Still, with enough trials----" The sultan thrust his cushions a sword's length to the right, and moved just far enough to be secure against further rifle fire from the minaret of the neighboring mosque.
tiledadjectiveUS /taɪld/
covered or furnished with tiles
From this reading "Maksoud is a notoriously wretched marksman," observed the sultan as he fingered the leaden slug which Amru, his white-haired wazir, had retrieved from the tiled floor.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Still, with enough trials----" The sultan thrust his cushions a sword's length to the right, and moved just far enough to be secure against further rifle fire from the minaret of the neighboring mosque.
trialsnounUS /ˈtraɪəlz/
plural of “trial” — the act of testing something
From this reading "Still, with enough trials----" The sultan thrust his cushions a sword's length to the right, and moved just far enough to be secure against further rifle fire from the minaret of the neighboring mosque.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading "With enough trials," resumed Schamas ad Din, "Maksoud may not have to wait for the British Resident to find a pretext to depose me."
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
wazir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Maksoud is a notoriously wretched marksman," observed the sultan as he fingered the leaden slug which Amru, his white-haired wazir, had retrieved from the tiled floor.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "Maksoud is a notoriously wretched marksman," observed the sultan as he fingered the leaden slug which Amru, his white-haired wazir, had retrieved from the tiled floor.
white-hairedadjective
showing characteristics of age, especially having grey or white hair
From this reading "Maksoud is a notoriously wretched marksman," observed the sultan as he fingered the leaden slug which Amru, his white-haired wazir, had retrieved from the tiled floor.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A bullet flattened itself against the chiseled arabesques of the wall behind Sultan Schamas ad Din of Angor-lana, spattering him with bits of lead and splinters of marble.
of very poor quality or condition
From this reading "Maksoud is a notoriously wretched marksman," observed the sultan as he fingered the leaden slug which Amru, his white-haired wazir, had retrieved from the tiled floor.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "It might not have been the son of your brother," suggested Amru, as he moved the fuming nargileh to the sultan's new position, and offered him the carved jade stem.
