used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The lieutenant exchanged a word with the sentry there, and after a moment the gates creaked back and we entered.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
at or in the front
From this reading In a few moments the threatening and gloomy walls of the Bastille loomed ahead, towering over the Porte St. Antoine, and we drew up at the outer gate.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In a few moments the threatening and gloomy walls of the Bastille loomed ahead, towering over the Porte St. Antoine, and we drew up at the outer gate.
Antoine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a few moments the threatening and gloomy walls of the Bastille loomed ahead, towering over the Porte St. Antoine, and we drew up at the outer gate.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The lieutenant exchanged a word with the sentry there, and after a moment the gates creaked back and we entered.
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 In a few moments the threatening and gloomy walls of the Bastille loomed ahead, towering over the Porte St. Antoine, and we drew up at the outer gate.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading We were in a long court, closed in by lofty walls, the prison itself forming one side.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading We were in a long court, closed in by lofty walls, the prison itself forming one side.
without stop or interruption
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading We were in a long court, closed in by lofty walls, the prison itself forming one side.
creakedverbUS /kriːkt/
past form of “creak” — make a high-pitched, screeching noise
From this reading The lieutenant exchanged a word with the sentry there, and after a moment the gates creaked back and we entered.
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
ditchnounUS /dɪtʃ/
a long narrow excavation in the earth
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading In a few moments the threatening and gloomy walls of the Bastille loomed ahead, towering over the Porte St. Antoine, and we drew up at the outer gate.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading The lieutenant exchanged a word with the sentry there, and after a moment the gates creaked back and we entered.
constituting the full quantity or extent; complete
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
at any time
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
exchangedadjectiveUS /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒd/
changed for (replaced by) something different
From this reading The lieutenant exchanged a word with the sentry there, and after a moment the gates creaked back and we entered.
exchangingverbUS /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “exchange” — give to, and receive from, one another
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
widely known and esteemed
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading In a few moments the threatening and gloomy walls of the Bastille loomed ahead, towering over the Porte St. Antoine, and we drew up at the outer gate.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
formingverbUS /ˈfɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “form” — create (as an entity)
From this reading We were in a long court, closed in by lofty walls, the prison itself forming one side.
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading In a few moments the threatening and gloomy walls of the Bastille loomed ahead, towering over the Porte St. Antoine, and we drew up at the outer gate.
United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)
From this reading The lieutenant exchanged a word with the sentry there, and after a moment the gates creaked back and we entered.
depressingly dark
From this reading In a few moments the threatening and gloomy walls of the Bastille loomed ahead, towering over the Porte St. Antoine, and we drew up at the outer gate.
guardsnounUS /ɡɑːrdz/
plural of “guard” — a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a few moments the threatening and gloomy walls of the Bastille loomed ahead, towering over the Porte St. Antoine, and we drew up at the outer gate.
interioradjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɪriər/
situated within or suitable for inside a building
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading We were in a long court, closed in by lofty walls, the prison itself forming one side.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading The lieutenant exchanged a word with the sentry there, and after a moment the gates creaked back and we entered.
loftyadjectiveUS /ˈlɔːfti/
of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style
From this reading We were in a long court, closed in by lofty walls, the prison itself forming one side.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading We were in a long court, closed in by lofty walls, the prison itself forming one side.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
loomedverbUS /luːmd/
past form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly
From this reading In a few moments the threatening and gloomy walls of the Bastille loomed ahead, towering over the Porte St. Antoine, and we drew up at the outer gate.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
a particular point in time
From this reading The lieutenant exchanged a word with the sentry there, and after a moment the gates creaked back and we entered.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading In a few moments the threatening and gloomy walls of the Bastille loomed ahead, towering over the Porte St. Antoine, and we drew up at the outer gate.
used to form the superlative
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
not any; not one
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading We were in a long court, closed in by lofty walls, the prison itself forming one side.
onwardadverbUS /ˈɔːnwərd/
forward in time or order or degree
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading In a few moments the threatening and gloomy walls of the Bastille loomed ahead, towering over the Porte St. Antoine, and we drew up at the outer gate.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading In a few moments the threatening and gloomy walls of the Bastille loomed ahead, towering over the Porte St. Antoine, and we drew up at the outer gate.
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
PortenounUS /pɔːrt/
the Ottoman court in Constantinople
From this reading In a few moments the threatening and gloomy walls of the Bastille loomed ahead, towering over the Porte St. Antoine, and we drew up at the outer gate.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
RichelieunounUS /ˈrɪʃəluː/
French prelate and statesman; principal minister to Louis XIII (1585-1642)
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
sentrynounUS /ˈsentri/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading The lieutenant exchanged a word with the sentry there, and after a moment the gates creaked back and we entered.
separatingverbUS /ˈsepəreɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “separate” — act as a barrier between; stand between
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a few moments the threatening and gloomy walls of the Bastille loomed ahead, towering over the Porte St. Antoine, and we drew up at the outer gate.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The lieutenant exchanged a word with the sentry there, and after a moment the gates creaked back and we entered.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
threateningadjectiveUS /ˈθretənɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading In a few moments the threatening and gloomy walls of the Bastille loomed ahead, towering over the Porte St. Antoine, and we drew up at the outer gate.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
toweringadjectiveUS /ˈtaʊərɪŋ/
of imposing height; especially standing out above others
From this reading In a few moments the threatening and gloomy walls of the Bastille loomed ahead, towering over the Porte St. Antoine, and we drew up at the outer gate.
troopnounUS /truːp/
a group of soldiers
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading In a few moments the threatening and gloomy walls of the Bastille loomed ahead, towering over the Porte St. Antoine, and we drew up at the outer gate.
any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
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 In a few moments the threatening and gloomy walls of the Bastille loomed ahead, towering over the Porte St. Antoine, and we drew up at the outer gate.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I looked about me curiously, for this was the first time I had ever seen the interior of the most famous prison in France, though I had spent an entire afternoon looking at it from the other side of the ditch.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading In a few moments the threatening and gloomy walls of the Bastille loomed ahead, towering over the Porte St. Antoine, and we drew up at the outer gate.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were in a long court, closed in by lofty walls, the prison itself forming one side.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE The troop of guards continued onward at a rapid pace, separating me from Richelieu, so that I had no opportunity of exchanging a word with him.
