used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE HAND OF PERSIA The lad who sidled up to Democrates was all but a hunchback.
(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 THE HAND OF PERSIA The lad who sidled up to Democrates was all but a hunchback.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading His eyes twinkled keenly, uneasily, as in token of an almost sinister intelligence.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His eyes twinkled keenly, uneasily, as in token of an almost sinister intelligence.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading His bare arms were grotesquely tattooed, clear sign that he was a Thracian.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His eyes twinkled keenly, uneasily, as in token of an almost sinister intelligence.
completely unclothed
From this reading His bare arms were grotesquely tattooed, clear sign that he was a Thracian.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading What he whispered to Democrates escaped the rest, but the latter began girding up his cloak.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE HAND OF PERSIA The lad who sidled up to Democrates was all but a hunchback.
rid of obstructions
From this reading His bare arms were grotesquely tattooed, clear sign that he was a Thracian.
anything that covers or conceals
From this reading What he whispered to Democrates escaped the rest, but the latter began girding up his cloak.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “You leave us, _philotate_?” cried Glaucon.
Democrates
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HAND OF PERSIA The lad who sidled up to Democrates was all but a hunchback.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading What he whispered to Democrates escaped the rest, but the latter began girding up his cloak.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His eyes twinkled keenly, uneasily, as in token of an almost sinister intelligence.
girdingverbUS /ˈɡɜːrdɪŋ/
-ing form of “gird” — prepare oneself for a military confrontation
From this reading What he whispered to Democrates escaped the rest, but the latter began girding up his cloak.
Glaucon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You leave us, _philotate_?” cried Glaucon.
grotesquelyadverbUS /ɡroʊˈteskli/
in a grotesque manner
From this reading His bare arms were grotesquely tattooed, clear sign that he was a Thracian.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading THE HAND OF PERSIA The lad who sidled up to Democrates was all but a hunchback.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His bare arms were grotesquely tattooed, clear sign that he was a Thracian.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His bare arms were grotesquely tattooed, clear sign that he was a Thracian.
hunchbacknounUS /ˈhʌntʃbæk/
an abnormal backward curve to the vertebral column
From this reading THE HAND OF PERSIA The lad who sidled up to Democrates was all but a hunchback.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His eyes twinkled keenly, uneasily, as in token of an almost sinister intelligence.
the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
From this reading His eyes twinkled keenly, uneasily, as in token of an almost sinister intelligence.
keenlyadverbUS /ˈkiːnli/
in a keen or penetrating way
From this reading His eyes twinkled keenly, uneasily, as in token of an almost sinister intelligence.
a boy or man
From this reading THE HAND OF PERSIA The lad who sidled up to Democrates was all but a hunchback.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading What he whispered to Democrates escaped the rest, but the latter began girding up his cloak.
go away from a place
From this reading “You leave us, _philotate_?” cried Glaucon.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE HAND OF PERSIA The lad who sidled up to Democrates was all but a hunchback.
PERSIAnounUS /ˈpɜːrʒə/
an empire in southern Asia created by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC and destroyed by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC
From this reading THE HAND OF PERSIA The lad who sidled up to Democrates was all but a hunchback.
philotate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You leave us, _philotate_?” cried Glaucon.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading What he whispered to Democrates escaped the rest, but the latter began girding up his cloak.
sidledverbUS /ˈsaɪdəld/
past form of “sidle” — move unobtrusively or furtively
From this reading THE HAND OF PERSIA The lad who sidled up to Democrates was all but a hunchback.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading His bare arms were grotesquely tattooed, clear sign that he was a Thracian.
sinisteradjectiveUS /ˈsɪnɪstər/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading His eyes twinkled keenly, uneasily, as in token of an almost sinister intelligence.
tattooedverbUS /ˌtæˈtuːd/
past form of “tattoo” — stain (skin) with indelible color
From this reading His bare arms were grotesquely tattooed, clear sign that he was a Thracian.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His bare arms were grotesquely tattooed, clear sign that he was a Thracian.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HAND OF PERSIA The lad who sidled up to Democrates was all but a hunchback.
Thraciannoun
an inhabitant of ancient Thrace
From this reading His bare arms were grotesquely tattooed, clear sign that he was a Thracian.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE HAND OF PERSIA The lad who sidled up to Democrates was all but a hunchback.
tokennounUS /ˈtoʊkən/
an individual instance of a type of symbol
From this reading His eyes twinkled keenly, uneasily, as in token of an almost sinister intelligence.
twinkledverbUS /ˈtwɪŋkəld/
past form of “twinkle” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading His eyes twinkled keenly, uneasily, as in token of an almost sinister intelligence.
uneasilyadverbUS /əˈniːzəli/
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading His eyes twinkled keenly, uneasily, as in token of an almost sinister intelligence.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading THE HAND OF PERSIA The lad who sidled up to Democrates was all but a hunchback.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “You leave us, _philotate_?” cried Glaucon.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE HAND OF PERSIA The lad who sidled up to Democrates was all but a hunchback.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His bare arms were grotesquely tattooed, clear sign that he was a Thracian.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What he whispered to Democrates escaped the rest, but the latter began girding up his cloak.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading What he whispered to Democrates escaped the rest, but the latter began girding up his cloak.
which person or people
From this reading THE HAND OF PERSIA The lad who sidled up to Democrates was all but a hunchback.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You leave us, _philotate_?” cried Glaucon.
