used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
alighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I alighted, the musketeers closed round me.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading We were under the shadow of an immense dark building, the massive outline of which was broken at intervals by eight round towers.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We were under the shadow of an immense dark building, the massive outline of which was broken at intervals by eight round towers.
barsnounUS /bɑːrz/
gymnastic apparatus consisting of two parallel wooden rods supported on uprights
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
BASTILLEnounUS /ˈbæstɪl/
a fortress built in Paris in the 14th century and used as a prison in the 17th and 18th centuries; it was destroyed July 14, 1789 at the start of the French Revolution
From this reading THE BASTILLE.
boltsnounUS /boʊlts/
plural of “bolt” — a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
Brissac
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading We were under the shadow of an immense dark building, the massive outline of which was broken at intervals by eight round towers.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading We were under the shadow of an immense dark building, the massive outline of which was broken at intervals by eight round towers.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading We were under the shadow of an immense dark building, the massive outline of which was broken at intervals by eight round towers.
a railcar where passengers ride
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
chainsnounUS /tʃeɪnz/
metal shackles; for hands or legs
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
clankingadjectiveUS /ˈklæŋkɪŋ/
having a hard nonresonant metallic sound
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading When I alighted, the musketeers closed round me.
custodynounUS /ˈkʌstədi/
a state of being confined (usually for a short time)
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading We were under the shadow of an immense dark building, the massive outline of which was broken at intervals by eight round towers.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
being one more than seven
From this reading We were under the shadow of an immense dark building, the massive outline of which was broken at intervals by eight round towers.
enclosedadjectiveUS /enˈkloʊzd/
closed in or surrounded or included within
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
chemical process in which one atom or ion or group changes places with another
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
set up or found
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
frownedverbUS /fraʊnd/
past form of “frown” — look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
gatewaynounUS /ˈɡeɪtweɪ/
an entrance that can be closed by a gate
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
the head of a state government
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
provoking horror
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading When I alighted, the musketeers closed round me.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading We were under the shadow of an immense dark building, the massive outline of which was broken at intervals by eight round towers.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
intervalsnounUS /ˈɪntərvəlz/
plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading We were under the shadow of an immense dark building, the massive outline of which was broken at intervals by eight round towers.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
jaggedadjectiveUS /ˈdʒæɡəd/
having a sharply uneven surface or outline
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
jarringadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɑːrɪŋ/
making or causing a harsh and irritating sound
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
maliciousadjectiveUS /məˈlɪʃəs/
having the nature of or resulting from malice
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
massiveadjectiveUS /ˈmæsɪv/
imposing in size or bulk or solidity
From this reading We were under the shadow of an immense dark building, the massive outline of which was broken at intervals by eight round towers.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When I alighted, the musketeers closed round me.
musketeersnounUS /ˌmʌskəˈtiːrz/
plural of “musketeer” — a foot soldier armed with a musket
From this reading When I alighted, the musketeers closed round me.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We were under the shadow of an immense dark building, the massive outline of which was broken at intervals by eight round towers.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
outlinenounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪn/
the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading We were under the shadow of an immense dark building, the massive outline of which was broken at intervals by eight round towers.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
pavementnounUS /ˈpeɪvmənt/
the paved surface of a thoroughfare
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading When I alighted, the musketeers closed round me.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading We were under the shadow of an immense dark building, the massive outline of which was broken at intervals by eight round towers.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BASTILLE.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
towersnounUS /ˈtaʊərz/
plural of “tower” — a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading We were under the shadow of an immense dark building, the massive outline of which was broken at intervals by eight round towers.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading We were under the shadow of an immense dark building, the massive outline of which was broken at intervals by eight round towers.
undisguisedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndɪsˈɡaɪzd/
plain to see
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
plural of “wall” — 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 jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We were under the shadow of an immense dark building, the massive outline of which was broken at intervals by eight round towers.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We were under the shadow of an immense dark building, the massive outline of which was broken at intervals by eight round towers.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were under the shadow of an immense dark building, the massive outline of which was broken at intervals by eight round towers.
at the time that
From this reading When I alighted, the musketeers closed round me.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We were under the shadow of an immense dark building, the massive outline of which was broken at intervals by eight round towers.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading A jagged gateway frowned above the carriage; there was a clanking of iron bars; a horrible jarring of bolts upon the pavement as an iron gate was opened and shut; a swinging of chains and exchange of papers as De Brissac gave my sword to the governor with a malicious and undisguised smile of triumph; and then I found myself in the custody of the Bastille--fairly enclosed within its walls.
