used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At that moment a heavy and measured sound began to be audible at some distance.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading They were advancing towards him; these soldiers, at whose head he distinguished Javert’s tall figure, advanced slowly and cautiously.
advancingadjectiveUS /ədˈvænsɪŋ/
moving forward
From this reading They were advancing towards him; these soldiers, at whose head he distinguished Javert’s tall figure, advanced slowly and cautiously.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At that moment a heavy and measured sound began to be audible at some distance.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At that moment a heavy and measured sound began to be audible at some distance.
audibleadjectiveUS /ˈɑːdəbəl/
heard or perceptible by the ear
From this reading At that moment a heavy and measured sound began to be audible at some distance.
bayonetsnounUS /ˈbeɪənets/
plural of “bayonet” — a knife that can be fixed to the end of a rifle and used as a weapon
From this reading He saw the gleam of their bayonets.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading At that moment a heavy and measured sound began to be audible at some distance.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading At that moment a heavy and measured sound began to be audible at some distance.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading They were advancing towards him; these soldiers, at whose head he distinguished Javert’s tall figure, advanced slowly and cautiously.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Jean Valjean risked a glance round the corner of the street.
debouched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seven or eight soldiers, drawn up in a platoon, had just debouched into the Rue Polonceau.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading At that moment a heavy and measured sound began to be audible at some distance.
(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation
From this reading They were advancing towards him; these soldiers, at whose head he distinguished Javert’s tall figure, advanced slowly and cautiously.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Seven or eight soldiers, drawn up in a platoon, had just debouched into the Rue Polonceau.
being one more than seven
From this reading Seven or eight soldiers, drawn up in a platoon, had just debouched into the Rue Polonceau.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading They were advancing towards him; these soldiers, at whose head he distinguished Javert’s tall figure, advanced slowly and cautiously.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Jean Valjean risked a glance round the corner of the street.
gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading He saw the gleam of their bayonets.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Seven or eight soldiers, drawn up in a platoon, had just debouched into the Rue Polonceau.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He saw the gleam of their bayonets.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading They were advancing towards him; these soldiers, at whose head he distinguished Javert’s tall figure, advanced slowly and cautiously.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading At that moment a heavy and measured sound began to be audible at some distance.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They were advancing towards him; these soldiers, at whose head he distinguished Javert’s tall figure, advanced slowly and cautiously.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Seven or eight soldiers, drawn up in a platoon, had just debouched into the Rue Polonceau.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Seven or eight soldiers, drawn up in a platoon, had just debouched into the Rue Polonceau.
Javert's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were advancing towards him; these soldiers, at whose head he distinguished Javert’s tall figure, advanced slowly and cautiously.
a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
From this reading Jean Valjean risked a glance round the corner of the street.
and nothing more
From this reading Seven or eight soldiers, drawn up in a platoon, had just debouched into the Rue Polonceau.
measuredadjectiveUS /ˈmeʒərd/
having notes of fixed rhythmic value
From this reading At that moment a heavy and measured sound began to be audible at some distance.
a particular point in time
From this reading At that moment a heavy and measured sound began to be audible at some distance.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Jean Valjean risked a glance round the corner of the street.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Seven or eight soldiers, drawn up in a platoon, had just debouched into the Rue Polonceau.
platoonnounUS /pləˈtuːn/
a military unit that is a subdivision of a company; usually has a headquarters and two or more squads; usually commanded by a lieutenant
From this reading Seven or eight soldiers, drawn up in a platoon, had just debouched into the Rue Polonceau.
Polonceau
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seven or eight soldiers, drawn up in a platoon, had just debouched into the Rue Polonceau.
riskedverbUS /rɪskt/
past form of “risk” — expose to a chance of loss or damage
From this reading Jean Valjean risked a glance round the corner of the street.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Jean Valjean risked a glance round the corner of the street.
RuenounUS /ruː/
European strong-scented perennial herb with grey-green bitter-tasting leaves; an irritant similar to poison ivy
From this reading Seven or eight soldiers, drawn up in a platoon, had just debouched into the Rue Polonceau.
cut with a saw
From this reading He saw the gleam of their bayonets.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading Seven or eight soldiers, drawn up in a platoon, had just debouched into the Rue Polonceau.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading They were advancing towards him; these soldiers, at whose head he distinguished Javert’s tall figure, advanced slowly and cautiously.
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading Seven or eight soldiers, drawn up in a platoon, had just debouched into the Rue Polonceau.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading At that moment a heavy and measured sound began to be audible at some distance.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading At that moment a heavy and measured sound began to be audible at some distance.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Jean Valjean risked a glance round the corner of the street.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading They were advancing towards him; these soldiers, at whose head he distinguished Javert’s tall figure, advanced slowly and cautiously.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At that moment a heavy and measured sound began to be audible at some distance.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Jean Valjean risked a glance round the corner of the street.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He saw the gleam of their bayonets.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading They were advancing towards him; these soldiers, at whose head he distinguished Javert’s tall figure, advanced slowly and cautiously.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were advancing towards him; these soldiers, at whose head he distinguished Javert’s tall figure, advanced slowly and cautiously.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At that moment a heavy and measured sound began to be audible at some distance.
in the direction of
From this reading They were advancing towards him; these soldiers, at whose head he distinguished Javert’s tall figure, advanced slowly and cautiously.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Seven or eight soldiers, drawn up in a platoon, had just debouched into the Rue Polonceau.
Valjean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jean Valjean risked a glance round the corner of the street.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were advancing towards him; these soldiers, at whose head he distinguished Javert’s tall figure, advanced slowly and cautiously.
belonging to which person
From this reading They were advancing towards him; these soldiers, at whose head he distinguished Javert’s tall figure, advanced slowly and cautiously.
