used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily enough to the clap of heels to his flanks.
a-gape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The news of the guards' coming and the prey they sought had spread through the village; there were assembled now some peasants, a-gape, and servants of the Carvalho estate, fingering staves.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily enough to the clap of heels to his flanks.
assembledverbUS /əˈsembəld/
past form of “assemble” — create by putting components or members together
From this reading The news of the guards' coming and the prey they sought had spread through the village; there were assembled now some peasants, a-gape, and servants of the Carvalho estate, fingering staves.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The noise died away, only the pounding of the bay's hooves on the track now broke the stillness.
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily enough to the clap of heels to his flanks.
bay'snounUS /beɪz/
possessive form of “bay” — an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading The noise died away, only the pounding of the bay's hooves on the track now broke the stillness.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
lacking funds
From this reading The noise died away, only the pounding of the bay's hooves on the track now broke the stillness.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Where the track came out on the post-road a crowd was gathered, peering and listening.
Carvalho
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The news of the guards' coming and the prey they sought had spread through the village; there were assembled now some peasants, a-gape, and servants of the Carvalho estate, fingering staves.
clapverbUS /klæp/
put quickly or forcibly
From this reading The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily enough to the clap of heels to his flanks.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The news of the guards' coming and the prey they sought had spread through the village; there were assembled now some peasants, a-gape, and servants of the Carvalho estate, fingering staves.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading Where the track came out on the post-road a crowd was gathered, peering and listening.
curtaladjective
(archaic) cut short
From this reading The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily enough to the clap of heels to his flanks.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading The noise died away, only the pounding of the bay's hooves on the track now broke the stillness.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily enough to the clap of heels to his flanks.
everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities
From this reading The news of the guards' coming and the prey they sought had spread through the village; there were assembled now some peasants, a-gape, and servants of the Carvalho estate, fingering staves.
fingeringnounUS /ˈfɪŋɡərɪŋ/
the placement of the fingers for playing different notes (or sequences of notes) on a musical instrument
From this reading The news of the guards' coming and the prey they sought had spread through the village; there were assembled now some peasants, a-gape, and servants of the Carvalho estate, fingering staves.
flanksnounUS /flæŋks/
plural of “flank” — the side of military or naval formation
From this reading The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily enough to the clap of heels to his flanks.
group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership
From this reading The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily enough to the clap of heels to his flanks.
brought together in one place
From this reading Where the track came out on the post-road a crowd was gathered, peering and listening.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
guardsnounUS /ɡɑːrdz/
plural of “guard” — a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading The news of the guards' coming and the prey they sought had spread through the village; there were assembled now some peasants, a-gape, and servants of the Carvalho estate, fingering staves.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily enough to the clap of heels to his flanks.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily enough to the clap of heels to his flanks.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily enough to the clap of heels to his flanks.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily enough to the clap of heels to his flanks.
hoovesnounUS /hʊvz/
plural of “hoof” — the foot of an ungulate mammal
From this reading The noise died away, only the pounding of the bay's hooves on the track now broke the stillness.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily enough to the clap of heels to his flanks.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading Where the track came out on the post-road a crowd was gathered, peering and listening.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
information about recent and important events
From this reading The news of the guards' coming and the prey they sought had spread through the village; there were assembled now some peasants, a-gape, and servants of the Carvalho estate, fingering staves.
NicholasnounUS /ˈnɪkələs/
a bishop in Asia Minor who is associated with Santa Claus (4th century)
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading The noise died away, only the pounding of the bay's hooves on the track now broke the stillness.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The noise died away, only the pounding of the bay's hooves on the track now broke the stillness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily enough to the clap of heels to his flanks.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
and nothing more
From this reading The noise died away, only the pounding of the bay's hooves on the track now broke the stillness.
onslaughtnounUS /ˈɔːnslɔːt/
a sudden and severe onset of trouble
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Where the track came out on the post-road a crowd was gathered, peering and listening.
peasantsnounUS /ˈpezənts/
plural of “peasant” — a country person
From this reading The news of the guards' coming and the prey they sought had spread through the village; there were assembled now some peasants, a-gape, and servants of the Carvalho estate, fingering staves.
peeringverbUS /ˈpiːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Where the track came out on the post-road a crowd was gathered, peering and listening.
post-road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Where the track came out on the post-road a crowd was gathered, peering and listening.
poundingnounUS /ˈpaʊndɪŋ/
repeated heavy blows
From this reading The noise died away, only the pounding of the bay's hooves on the track now broke the stillness.
compacted by ironing
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
preynounUS /preɪ/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading The news of the guards' coming and the prey they sought had spread through the village; there were assembled now some peasants, a-gape, and servants of the Carvalho estate, fingering staves.
without much difficulty
From this reading The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily enough to the clap of heels to his flanks.
past form of “respond” — show a response or a reaction to something
From this reading The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily enough to the clap of heels to his flanks.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading The news of the guards' coming and the prey they sought had spread through the village; there were assembled now some peasants, a-gape, and servants of the Carvalho estate, fingering staves.
shoutsnounUS /ʃaʊts/
plural of “shout” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
term of address for a man
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
snatchedverbUS /snætʃt/
past form of “snatch” — to grasp hastily or eagerly
From this reading The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily enough to the clap of heels to his flanks.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The news of the guards' coming and the prey they sought had spread through the village; there were assembled now some peasants, a-gape, and servants of the Carvalho estate, fingering staves.
that is looked for
From this reading The news of the guards' coming and the prey they sought had spread through the village; there were assembled now some peasants, a-gape, and servants of the Carvalho estate, fingering staves.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading The news of the guards' coming and the prey they sought had spread through the village; there were assembled now some peasants, a-gape, and servants of the Carvalho estate, fingering staves.
stavesnounUS /steɪvz/
plural of “stave” — (music) the system of five horizontal lines on which the musical notes are written
From this reading The news of the guards' coming and the prey they sought had spread through the village; there were assembled now some peasants, a-gape, and servants of the Carvalho estate, fingering staves.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading The noise died away, only the pounding of the bay's hooves on the track now broke the stillness.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily enough to the clap of heels to his flanks.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The news of the guards' coming and the prey they sought had spread through the village; there were assembled now some peasants, a-gape, and servants of the Carvalho estate, fingering staves.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The news of the guards' coming and the prey they sought had spread through the village; there were assembled now some peasants, a-gape, and servants of the Carvalho estate, fingering staves.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The news of the guards' coming and the prey they sought had spread through the village; there were assembled now some peasants, a-gape, and servants of the Carvalho estate, fingering staves.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily enough to the clap of heels to his flanks.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading The noise died away, only the pounding of the bay's hooves on the track now broke the stillness.
tramplingnounUS /ˈtræmplɪŋ/
the sound of heavy treading or stomping
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading The news of the guards' coming and the prey they sought had spread through the village; there were assembled now some peasants, a-gape, and servants of the Carvalho estate, fingering staves.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily enough to the clap of heels to his flanks.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The news of the guards' coming and the prey they sought had spread through the village; there were assembled now some peasants, a-gape, and servants of the Carvalho estate, fingering staves.
in or at the place that
From this reading Where the track came out on the post-road a crowd was gathered, peering and listening.
which person or people
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who held them, and pressed on.
