used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But I observe that you are looking with horror on those cells whose only furniture consists of a wretched bed,--those fearful dungeons appear to you so many tombs.
(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 They are creatures who have lost all the feelings of humanity, if they ever possessed any;--the most malicious of my brethren could hardly replace one of them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE PRISON, AND THE PRISONERS.
antiquitynounUS /ænˈtɪkwəti/
the historic period preceding the Middle Ages in Europe
From this reading The poets of antiquity placed but one Cerberus at the gate of their hell: there are many more here, however, as you perceive.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading They are creatures who have lost all the feelings of humanity, if they ever possessed any;--the most malicious of my brethren could hardly replace one of them.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But I observe that you are looking with horror on those cells whose only furniture consists of a wretched bed,--those fearful dungeons appear to you so many tombs.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The poets of antiquity placed but one Cerberus at the gate of their hell: there are many more here, however, as you perceive.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The poets of antiquity placed but one Cerberus at the gate of their hell: there are many more here, however, as you perceive.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "And before I commence my memoirs, just observe the gaolers at the entrance of this horrible place.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading But I observe that you are looking with horror on those cells whose only furniture consists of a wretched bed,--those fearful dungeons appear to you so many tombs.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "And before I commence my memoirs, just observe the gaolers at the entrance of this horrible place.
brethrennounUS /ˈbreðrən/
(plural) the lay members of a male religious order
From this reading They are creatures who have lost all the feelings of humanity, if they ever possessed any;--the most malicious of my brethren could hardly replace one of them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The poets of antiquity placed but one Cerberus at the gate of their hell: there are many more here, however, as you perceive.
cellsnounUS /selz/
plural of “cell” — any small compartment
From this reading But I observe that you are looking with horror on those cells whose only furniture consists of a wretched bed,--those fearful dungeons appear to you so many tombs.
Cerberusnoun
(Greek mythology) the three-headed dog guarding the entrance to Hades; son of Typhon
From this reading The poets of antiquity placed but one Cerberus at the gate of their hell: there are many more here, however, as you perceive.
commenceverbUS /kəˈmens/
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "And before I commence my memoirs, just observe the gaolers at the entrance of this horrible place.
consistsverbUS /kənˈsɪsts/
third-person singular of “consist” — originate
From this reading But I observe that you are looking with horror on those cells whose only furniture consists of a wretched bed,--those fearful dungeons appear to you so many tombs.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They are creatures who have lost all the feelings of humanity, if they ever possessed any;--the most malicious of my brethren could hardly replace one of them.
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading They are creatures who have lost all the feelings of humanity, if they ever possessed any;--the most malicious of my brethren could hardly replace one of them.
dungeonsnounUS /ˈdʌndʒənz/
plural of “dungeon” — the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
From this reading But I observe that you are looking with horror on those cells whose only furniture consists of a wretched bed,--those fearful dungeons appear to you so many tombs.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading "And before I commence my memoirs, just observe the gaolers at the entrance of this horrible place.
at any time
From this reading They are creatures who have lost all the feelings of humanity, if they ever possessed any;--the most malicious of my brethren could hardly replace one of them.
experiencing or showing fear
From this reading But I observe that you are looking with horror on those cells whose only furniture consists of a wretched bed,--those fearful dungeons appear to you so many tombs.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading They are creatures who have lost all the feelings of humanity, if they ever possessed any;--the most malicious of my brethren could hardly replace one of them.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading But I observe that you are looking with horror on those cells whose only furniture consists of a wretched bed,--those fearful dungeons appear to you so many tombs.
gaolers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And before I commence my memoirs, just observe the gaolers at the entrance of this horrible place.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading The poets of antiquity placed but one Cerberus at the gate of their hell: there are many more here, however, as you perceive.
only a very short time before
From this reading They are creatures who have lost all the feelings of humanity, if they ever possessed any;--the most malicious of my brethren could hardly replace one of them.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They are creatures who have lost all the feelings of humanity, if they ever possessed any;--the most malicious of my brethren could hardly replace one of them.
any place of pain and turmoil
From this reading The poets of antiquity placed but one Cerberus at the gate of their hell: there are many more here, however, as you perceive.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading The poets of antiquity placed but one Cerberus at the gate of their hell: there are many more here, however, as you perceive.
provoking horror
From this reading "And before I commence my memoirs, just observe the gaolers at the entrance of this horrible place.
intense and profound fear
From this reading But I observe that you are looking with horror on those cells whose only furniture consists of a wretched bed,--those fearful dungeons appear to you so many tombs.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The poets of antiquity placed but one Cerberus at the gate of their hell: there are many more here, however, as you perceive.
the quality of being humane
From this reading They are creatures who have lost all the feelings of humanity, if they ever possessed any;--the most malicious of my brethren could hardly replace one of them.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "And before I commence my memoirs, just observe the gaolers at the entrance of this horrible place.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading They are creatures who have lost all the feelings of humanity, if they ever possessed any;--the most malicious of my brethren could hardly replace one of them.
and nothing more
From this reading "And before I commence my memoirs, just observe the gaolers at the entrance of this horrible place.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading But I observe that you are looking with horror on those cells whose only furniture consists of a wretched bed,--those fearful dungeons appear to you so many tombs.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading They are creatures who have lost all the feelings of humanity, if they ever possessed any;--the most malicious of my brethren could hardly replace one of them.
maliciousadjectiveUS /məˈlɪʃəs/
having the nature of or resulting from malice
From this reading They are creatures who have lost all the feelings of humanity, if they ever possessed any;--the most malicious of my brethren could hardly replace one of them.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The poets of antiquity placed but one Cerberus at the gate of their hell: there are many more here, however, as you perceive.
memoirsnounUS /ˈmemwɑːrz/
plural of “memoir” — an account of the author's personal experiences
From this reading "And before I commence my memoirs, just observe the gaolers at the entrance of this horrible place.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The poets of antiquity placed but one Cerberus at the gate of their hell: there are many more here, however, as you perceive.
used to form the superlative
From this reading They are creatures who have lost all the feelings of humanity, if they ever possessed any;--the most malicious of my brethren could hardly replace one of them.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "And before I commence my memoirs, just observe the gaolers at the entrance of this horrible place.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading "And before I commence my memoirs, just observe the gaolers at the entrance of this horrible place.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "And before I commence my memoirs, just observe the gaolers at the entrance of this horrible place.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But I observe that you are looking with horror on those cells whose only furniture consists of a wretched bed,--those fearful dungeons appear to you so many tombs.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The poets of antiquity placed but one Cerberus at the gate of their hell: there are many more here, however, as you perceive.
and nothing more
From this reading But I observe that you are looking with horror on those cells whose only furniture consists of a wretched bed,--those fearful dungeons appear to you so many tombs.
perceiveverbUS /pərˈsiːv/
to become aware of through the senses
From this reading The poets of antiquity placed but one Cerberus at the gate of their hell: there are many more here, however, as you perceive.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading "And before I commence my memoirs, just observe the gaolers at the entrance of this horrible place.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading The poets of antiquity placed but one Cerberus at the gate of their hell: there are many more here, however, as you perceive.
poetsnounUS /ˈpoʊəts/
plural of “poet” — a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)
From this reading The poets of antiquity placed but one Cerberus at the gate of their hell: there are many more here, however, as you perceive.
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading They are creatures who have lost all the feelings of humanity, if they ever possessed any;--the most malicious of my brethren could hardly replace one of them.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading THE PRISON, AND THE PRISONERS.
plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading THE PRISON, AND THE PRISONERS.
replaceverbUS /ˌriːˈpleɪs/
substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)
From this reading They are creatures who have lost all the feelings of humanity, if they ever possessed any;--the most malicious of my brethren could hardly replace one of them.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But I observe that you are looking with horror on those cells whose only furniture consists of a wretched bed,--those fearful dungeons appear to you so many tombs.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But I observe that you are looking with horror on those cells whose only furniture consists of a wretched bed,--those fearful dungeons appear to you so many tombs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PRISON, AND THE PRISONERS.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The poets of antiquity placed but one Cerberus at the gate of their hell: there are many more here, however, as you perceive.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They are creatures who have lost all the feelings of humanity, if they ever possessed any;--the most malicious of my brethren could hardly replace one of them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The poets of antiquity placed but one Cerberus at the gate of their hell: there are many more here, however, as you perceive.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They are creatures who have lost all the feelings of humanity, if they ever possessed any;--the most malicious of my brethren could hardly replace one of them.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "And before I commence my memoirs, just observe the gaolers at the entrance of this horrible place.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading But I observe that you are looking with horror on those cells whose only furniture consists of a wretched bed,--those fearful dungeons appear to you so many tombs.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But I observe that you are looking with horror on those cells whose only furniture consists of a wretched bed,--those fearful dungeons appear to you so many tombs.
tombsnounUS /tuːmz/
plural of “tomb” — a place for the burial of a corpse (especially beneath the ground and marked by a tombstone)
From this reading But I observe that you are looking with horror on those cells whose only furniture consists of a wretched bed,--those fearful dungeons appear to you so many tombs.
which person or people
From this reading They are creatures who have lost all the feelings of humanity, if they ever possessed any;--the most malicious of my brethren could hardly replace one of them.
belonging to which person
From this reading But I observe that you are looking with horror on those cells whose only furniture consists of a wretched bed,--those fearful dungeons appear to you so many tombs.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But I observe that you are looking with horror on those cells whose only furniture consists of a wretched bed,--those fearful dungeons appear to you so many tombs.
of very poor quality or condition
From this reading But I observe that you are looking with horror on those cells whose only furniture consists of a wretched bed,--those fearful dungeons appear to you so many tombs.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The poets of antiquity placed but one Cerberus at the gate of their hell: there are many more here, however, as you perceive.
