used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading The Greek's bearing, as he approached, under the king's penetrating glance, was calm and noble; he fell on his face, and, according to the Persian custom, kissed the ground.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And the king's eyes flashed with anger as he said these words.
a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
From this reading And the king's eyes flashed with anger as he said these words.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading The Greek's bearing, as he approached, under the king's penetrating glance, was calm and noble; he fell on his face, and, according to the Persian custom, kissed the ground.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And the king's eyes flashed with anger as he said these words.
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading The Greek's bearing, as he approached, under the king's penetrating glance, was calm and noble; he fell on his face, and, according to the Persian custom, kissed the ground.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before he entered, the chamberlains fastened the usual cloth before his mouth, and commanded him to cast himself on the ground before the king.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
make calm or still
From this reading The Greek's bearing, as he approached, under the king's penetrating glance, was calm and noble; he fell on his face, and, according to the Persian custom, kissed the ground.
put or send forth
From this reading Before he entered, the chamberlains fastened the usual cloth before his mouth, and commanded him to cast himself on the ground before the king.
chamberlains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he entered, the chamberlains fastened the usual cloth before his mouth, and commanded him to cast himself on the ground before the king.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading Before he entered, the chamberlains fastened the usual cloth before his mouth, and commanded him to cast himself on the ground before the king.
past form of “command” — be in command of
From this reading Before he entered, the chamberlains fastened the usual cloth before his mouth, and commanded him to cast himself on the ground before the king.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading The Greek's bearing, as he approached, under the king's penetrating glance, was calm and noble; he fell on his face, and, according to the Persian custom, kissed the ground.
CyrusnounUS /ˈsaɪrəs/
Persian prince who was defeated in battle by his brother Artaxerxes II (424-401 BC)
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
deceiveverbUS /dɪˈsiːv/
be false to; be dishonest with
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Before he entered, the chamberlains fastened the usual cloth before his mouth, and commanded him to cast himself on the ground before the king.
opinion or judgment
From this reading And the king's eyes flashed with anger as he said these words.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The Greek's bearing, as he approached, under the king's penetrating glance, was calm and noble; he fell on his face, and, according to the Persian custom, kissed the ground.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
firmly closed or secured
From this reading Before he entered, the chamberlains fastened the usual cloth before his mouth, and commanded him to cast himself on the ground before the king.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The Greek's bearing, as he approached, under the king's penetrating glance, was calm and noble; he fell on his face, and, according to the Persian custom, kissed the ground.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading And the king's eyes flashed with anger as he said these words.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Hystaspes, however, sent for the Greek.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading The Greek's bearing, as he approached, under the king's penetrating glance, was calm and noble; he fell on his face, and, according to the Persian custom, kissed the ground.
the Hellenic branch of the Indo-European family of languages
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
Greek's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Greek's bearing, as he approached, under the king's penetrating glance, was calm and noble; he fell on his face, and, according to the Persian custom, kissed the ground.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Before he entered, the chamberlains fastened the usual cloth before his mouth, and commanded him to cast himself on the ground before the king.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Before he entered, the chamberlains fastened the usual cloth before his mouth, and commanded him to cast himself on the ground before the king.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Before he entered, the chamberlains fastened the usual cloth before his mouth, and commanded him to cast himself on the ground before the king.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Before he entered, the chamberlains fastened the usual cloth before his mouth, and commanded him to cast himself on the ground before the king.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Hystaspes, however, sent for the Greek.
Hystaspes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hystaspes, however, sent for the Greek.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading Before he entered, the chamberlains fastened the usual cloth before his mouth, and commanded him to cast himself on the ground before the king.
king'snounUS /kɪŋz/
possessive form of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading And the king's eyes flashed with anger as he said these words.
past form of “kiss” — touch with the lips or press the lips (against someone's mouth or other body part) as an expression of love, greeting, etc.
From this reading The Greek's bearing, as he approached, under the king's penetrating glance, was calm and noble; he fell on his face, and, according to the Persian custom, kissed the ground.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading Before he entered, the chamberlains fastened the usual cloth before his mouth, and commanded him to cast himself on the ground before the king.
nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/
impressive in appearance
From this reading The Greek's bearing, as he approached, under the king's penetrating glance, was calm and noble; he fell on his face, and, according to the Persian custom, kissed the ground.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Before he entered, the chamberlains fastened the usual cloth before his mouth, and commanded him to cast himself on the ground before the king.
penetratingadjectiveUS /ˈpenətreɪtɪŋ/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading The Greek's bearing, as he approached, under the king's penetrating glance, was calm and noble; he fell on his face, and, according to the Persian custom, kissed the ground.
PersiannounUS /ˈpɜːrʒən/
a native or inhabitant of Iran
From this reading The Greek's bearing, as he approached, under the king's penetrating glance, was calm and noble; he fell on his face, and, according to the Persian custom, kissed the ground.
To recall to mind.
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading And the king's eyes flashed with anger as he said these words.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading Hystaspes, however, sent for the Greek.
a male human offspring
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading And the king's eyes flashed with anger as he said these words.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The Greek's bearing, as he approached, under the king's penetrating glance, was calm and noble; he fell on his face, and, according to the Persian custom, kissed the ground.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Before he entered, the chamberlains fastened the usual cloth before his mouth, and commanded him to cast himself on the ground before the king.
precisely as stated
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
plural of “want” — a state of extreme poverty
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Greek's bearing, as he approached, under the king's penetrating glance, was calm and noble; he fell on his face, and, according to the Persian custom, kissed the ground.
in or at the place that
From this reading But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance."
in the company of; together with
From this reading And the king's eyes flashed with anger as he said these words.
the words that are spoken
From this reading And the king's eyes flashed with anger as he said these words.
