used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading A voice bawled a challenge across the gulf.
Alessandria
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading 'Messenger from Messer Girolamo,' answered the muleteer.
bawledverbUS /bɔːld/
past form of “bawl” — shout loudly and without restraint
From this reading A voice bawled a challenge across the gulf.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading A moment later a light showed behind the grating by the narrow postern gate, built into the wall beside the portcullis.
next to; at the side of
From this reading A moment later a light showed behind the grating by the narrow postern gate, built into the wall beside the portcullis.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading A moment later a light showed behind the grating by the narrow postern gate, built into the wall beside the portcullis.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
challengeverbUS /ˈtʃæləndʒ/
take exception to
From this reading A voice bawled a challenge across the gulf.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading 'Who comes?'
the first light of day
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
having the place or position changed
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading 'Messenger from Messer Girolamo,' answered the muleteer.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
Girolamo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Messenger from Messer Girolamo,' answered the muleteer.
gratingnounUS /ˈɡreɪtɪŋ/
a barrier that has parallel or crossed bars blocking a passage but admitting air
From this reading A moment later a light showed behind the grating by the narrow postern gate, built into the wall beside the portcullis.
gulfnounUS /ɡʌlf/
an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay
From this reading A voice bawled a challenge across the gulf.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A moment later a light showed behind the grating by the narrow postern gate, built into the wall beside the portcullis.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading A moment later a light showed behind the grating by the narrow postern gate, built into the wall beside the portcullis.
a person who rules or guides or inspires others
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A moment later a light showed behind the grating by the narrow postern gate, built into the wall beside the portcullis.
a person who carries a message
From this reading 'Messenger from Messer Girolamo,' answered the muleteer.
Messer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Messenger from Messer Girolamo,' answered the muleteer.
a particular point in time
From this reading A moment later a light showed behind the grating by the narrow postern gate, built into the wall beside the portcullis.
mule-train
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
MULETEERnoun
a worker who drives mules
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading A moment later a light showed behind the grating by the narrow postern gate, built into the wall beside the portcullis.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
portcullisnoun
gate consisting of an iron or wooden grating that hangs in the entry to a castle or fortified town; can be lowered to prevent passage
From this reading A moment later a light showed behind the grating by the narrow postern gate, built into the wall beside the portcullis.
posternnoun
a small gate in the rear of a fort or castle
From this reading A moment later a light showed behind the grating by the narrow postern gate, built into the wall beside the portcullis.
recurring again and again
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading A moment later a light showed behind the grating by the narrow postern gate, built into the wall beside the portcullis.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
thriceadverbUS /θraɪs/
three times
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading A voice bawled a challenge across the gulf.
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 moment later a light showed behind the grating by the narrow postern gate, built into the wall beside the portcullis.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
at the time that
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
whistleverbUS /ˈwɪsəl/
make whistling sounds
From this reading THE MULETEER It wanted less than an hour to dawn when the mule-train came up to the southern gate of Alessandria, and its single leader disturbed the silence of the night by a shrill whistle thrice repeated.
which person or people
From this reading 'Who comes?'
