1
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading While Hanno’s bireme glided betwixt the portals of Nimitti-Bel, a yet more magnificent galley had been flying up-stream to meet her.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
Akkad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But at their centre was no less a person than Belshazzar himself, sovereign lord of “Sumer and Akkad,” as myriads hailed him.
(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 Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On the poop, where the polished teak and ivory glittered, stood a group of officers, in array glorious as the orb of Samas.
arraynounUS /ərˈeɪ/
an orderly arrangement
From this reading On the poop, where the polished teak and ivory glittered, stood a group of officers, in array glorious as the orb of Samas.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading On the poop, where the polished teak and ivory glittered, stood a group of officers, in array glorious as the orb of Samas.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But at their centre was no less a person than Belshazzar himself, sovereign lord of “Sumer and Akkad,” as myriads hailed him.
Avil-Marduk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading While Hanno’s bireme glided betwixt the portals of Nimitti-Bel, a yet more magnificent galley had been flying up-stream to meet her.
BelnounUS /bel/
a logarithmic unit of sound intensity equal to 10 decibels
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
Belshazzarnoun
(Old Testament) Babylonian general and son of Nebuchadnezzar II; according to the Old Testament he was warned of his doom by divine handwriting on the wall that was interpreted by Daniel (6th century BC)
From this reading But at their centre was no less a person than Belshazzar himself, sovereign lord of “Sumer and Akkad,” as myriads hailed him.
betwixtprepositionUS /biˈtwɪkst/
an old word for “between”
From this reading While Hanno’s bireme glided betwixt the portals of Nimitti-Bel, a yet more magnificent galley had been flying up-stream to meet her.
Bilsandan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
bireme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Hanno’s bireme glided betwixt the portals of Nimitti-Bel, a yet more magnificent galley had been flying up-stream to meet her.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But at their centre was no less a person than Belshazzar himself, sovereign lord of “Sumer and Akkad,” as myriads hailed him.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading But at their centre was no less a person than Belshazzar himself, sovereign lord of “Sumer and Akkad,” as myriads hailed him.
a person who is in charge
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
citiesnounUS /ˈsɪtiz/
plural of “city” — a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading Tall, handsome men were they all, worthy rulers of the city of cities.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading Tall, handsome men were they all, worthy rulers of the city of cities.
an officer in command of a military unit
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
moving swiftly
From this reading While Hanno’s bireme glided betwixt the portals of Nimitti-Bel, a yet more magnificent galley had been flying up-stream to meet her.
galleynounUS /ˈɡæli/
a large medieval vessel with a single deck propelled by sails and oars with guns at stern and prow; a complement of 1,000 men; used mainly in the Mediterranean for war and trading
From this reading While Hanno’s bireme glided betwixt the portals of Nimitti-Bel, a yet more magnificent galley had been flying up-stream to meet her.
glidedverbUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪd/
past form of “glide” — move smoothly and effortlessly
From this reading While Hanno’s bireme glided betwixt the portals of Nimitti-Bel, a yet more magnificent galley had been flying up-stream to meet her.
glitteredverbUS /ˈɡlɪtərd/
past form of “glitter” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading On the poop, where the polished teak and ivory glittered, stood a group of officers, in array glorious as the orb of Samas.
having or deserving or conferring glory
From this reading On the poop, where the polished teak and ivory glittered, stood a group of officers, in array glorious as the orb of Samas.
goatskinnoun
the hide of a goat
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading On the poop, where the polished teak and ivory glittered, stood a group of officers, in array glorious as the orb of Samas.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading While Hanno’s bireme glided betwixt the portals of Nimitti-Bel, a yet more magnificent galley had been flying up-stream to meet her.
hailedverbUS /heɪld/
past form of “hail” — praise vociferously
From this reading But at their centre was no less a person than Belshazzar himself, sovereign lord of “Sumer and Akkad,” as myriads hailed him.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading Tall, handsome men were they all, worthy rulers of the city of cities.
Hanno's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Hanno’s bireme glided betwixt the portals of Nimitti-Bel, a yet more magnificent galley had been flying up-stream to meet her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading While Hanno’s bireme glided betwixt the portals of Nimitti-Bel, a yet more magnificent galley had been flying up-stream to meet her.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading But at their centre was no less a person than Belshazzar himself, sovereign lord of “Sumer and Akkad,” as myriads hailed him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On the poop, where the polished teak and ivory glittered, stood a group of officers, in array glorious as the orb of Samas.
ivorynounUS /ˈaɪvəri/
a hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses
From this reading On the poop, where the polished teak and ivory glittered, stood a group of officers, in array glorious as the orb of Samas.
a domain in which something is dominant
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading But at their centre was no less a person than Belshazzar himself, sovereign lord of “Sumer and Akkad,” as myriads hailed him.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading But at their centre was no less a person than Belshazzar himself, sovereign lord of “Sumer and Akkad,” as myriads hailed him.
characterized by grandeur
From this reading While Hanno’s bireme glided betwixt the portals of Nimitti-Bel, a yet more magnificent galley had been flying up-stream to meet her.
come together
From this reading While Hanno’s bireme glided betwixt the portals of Nimitti-Bel, a yet more magnificent galley had been flying up-stream to meet her.
the force of workers available
From this reading Tall, handsome men were they all, worthy rulers of the city of cities.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading While Hanno’s bireme glided betwixt the portals of Nimitti-Bel, a yet more magnificent galley had been flying up-stream to meet her.
myriads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But at their centre was no less a person than Belshazzar himself, sovereign lord of “Sumer and Akkad,” as myriads hailed him.
Nimitti-Bel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Hanno’s bireme glided betwixt the portals of Nimitti-Bel, a yet more magnificent galley had been flying up-stream to meet her.
not any; not one
From this reading But at their centre was no less a person than Belshazzar himself, sovereign lord of “Sumer and Akkad,” as myriads hailed him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While Hanno’s bireme glided betwixt the portals of Nimitti-Bel, a yet more magnificent galley had been flying up-stream to meet her.
plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading On the poop, where the polished teak and ivory glittered, stood a group of officers, in array glorious as the orb of Samas.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the poop, where the polished teak and ivory glittered, stood a group of officers, in array glorious as the orb of Samas.
orbnounUS /ɔːrb/
the ball-shaped capsule containing the vertebrate eye
From this reading On the poop, where the polished teak and ivory glittered, stood a group of officers, in array glorious as the orb of Samas.
a human being
From this reading But at their centre was no less a person than Belshazzar himself, sovereign lord of “Sumer and Akkad,” as myriads hailed him.
polishedadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃt/
perfected or made shiny and smooth
From this reading On the poop, where the polished teak and ivory glittered, stood a group of officers, in array glorious as the orb of Samas.
pontiffnounUS /ˈpɑːntəf/
the head of the Roman Catholic Church
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
poopnounUS /puːp/
obscene terms for feces
From this reading On the poop, where the polished teak and ivory glittered, stood a group of officers, in array glorious as the orb of Samas.
portalsnounUS /ˈpɔːrtəlz/
plural of “portal” — a grand and imposing entrance (often extended metaphorically)
From this reading While Hanno’s bireme glided betwixt the portals of Nimitti-Bel, a yet more magnificent galley had been flying up-stream to meet her.
a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
proclaimedadjectiveUS /proʊˈkleɪmd/
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
proudestadjectiveUS /ˈpraʊdəst/
superlative of “proud” — feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
Rabsaki
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
rulersnounUS /ˈruːlərz/
plural of “ruler” — a person who rules or commands
From this reading Tall, handsome men were they all, worthy rulers of the city of cities.
Samas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the poop, where the polished teak and ivory glittered, stood a group of officers, in array glorious as the orb of Samas.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
Sirusur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
sovereignadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːv.rən/
Possessing supreme or ultimate power; autonomous and commanding.
From this reading But at their centre was no less a person than Belshazzar himself, sovereign lord of “Sumer and Akkad,” as myriads hailed him.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading On the poop, where the polished teak and ivory glittered, stood a group of officers, in array glorious as the orb of Samas.
Sumernoun
an area in the southern region of Babylonia in present-day Iraq; site of the Sumerian civilization of city-states that flowered during the third millennium BC
From this reading But at their centre was no less a person than Belshazzar himself, sovereign lord of “Sumer and Akkad,” as myriads hailed him.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading Tall, handsome men were they all, worthy rulers of the city of cities.
TartannounUS /ˈtɑːrtən/
a cloth having a crisscross design
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
teaknounUS /tiːk/
hard strong durable yellowish-brown wood of teak trees; resistant to insects and to warping; used for furniture and in shipbuilding
From this reading On the poop, where the polished teak and ivory glittered, stood a group of officers, in array glorious as the orb of Samas.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But at their centre was no less a person than Belshazzar himself, sovereign lord of “Sumer and Akkad,” as myriads hailed him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While Hanno’s bireme glided betwixt the portals of Nimitti-Bel, a yet more magnificent galley had been flying up-stream to meet her.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But at their centre was no less a person than Belshazzar himself, sovereign lord of “Sumer and Akkad,” as myriads hailed him.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Tall, handsome men were they all, worthy rulers of the city of cities.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading While Hanno’s bireme glided betwixt the portals of Nimitti-Bel, a yet more magnificent galley had been flying up-stream to meet her.
up-stream
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Hanno’s bireme glided betwixt the portals of Nimitti-Bel, a yet more magnificent galley had been flying up-stream to meet her.
viziernounUS /vɪˈzɪər/
A high-ranking political advisor or minister to the sovereign monarch.
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But at their centre was no less a person than Belshazzar himself, sovereign lord of “Sumer and Akkad,” as myriads hailed him.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Tall, handsome men were they all, worthy rulers of the city of cities.
in or at the place that
From this reading On the poop, where the polished teak and ivory glittered, stood a group of officers, in array glorious as the orb of Samas.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While Hanno’s bireme glided betwixt the portals of Nimitti-Bel, a yet more magnificent galley had been flying up-stream to meet her.
belonging to which person
From this reading Here stood Sirusur, the _Tartan_, commander of the host; here Bilsandan, the _Rabsaki_, grand vizier; here, proudest of all, Avil-Marduk, whose gray goatskin across his shoulders proclaimed him chief priest of Bel,[1] highest pontiff of the kingdom.
Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.
From this reading Tall, handsome men were they all, worthy rulers of the city of cities.
but in spite of that
From this reading While Hanno’s bireme glided betwixt the portals of Nimitti-Bel, a yet more magnificent galley had been flying up-stream to meet her.
