used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After this he made him a sign to rise.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After this he made him a sign to rise.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
From this reading Javert obeyed with that indefinable smile in which the supremacy of enchained authority is condensed.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
for the reason that
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
breast-band
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
an onerous or difficult concern
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
condensedverbUS /kənˈdenst/
past form of “condense” — undergo condensation; change from a gaseous to a liquid state and fall in drops
From this reading Javert obeyed with that indefinable smile in which the supremacy of enchained authority is condensed.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
draggingadjectiveUS /ˈdræɡɪŋ/
marked by a painfully slow and effortful manner
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
emergedverbUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒd/
past form of “emerge” — come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
enchainedadjective
bound with chains
From this reading Javert obeyed with that indefinable smile in which the supremacy of enchained authority is condensed.
firmly closed or secured
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Jean Valjean had the pistol in his hand.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Jean Valjean had the pistol in his hand.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading After this he made him a sign to rise.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
impededadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpiːdɪd/
made difficult or slow
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Javert obeyed with that indefinable smile in which the supremacy of enchained authority is condensed.
indefinableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈfaɪnəbəl/
not capable of being precisely or readily described; not easily put into words
From this reading Javert obeyed with that indefinable smile in which the supremacy of enchained authority is condensed.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Javert obeyed with that indefinable smile in which the supremacy of enchained authority is condensed.
Javert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
knotnounUS /nɑːt/
a tight cluster of people or things
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading After this he made him a sign to rise.
martingalenounUS /ˈmɑːrtɪŋeɪl/
a harness strap that connects the nose piece to the girth; prevents the horse from throwing back its head
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
past form of “obey” — be obedient to
From this reading Javert obeyed with that indefinable smile in which the supremacy of enchained authority is condensed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
and nothing more
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading Jean Valjean had the pistol in his hand.
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
move upward
From this reading After this he made him a sign to rise.
a strong line
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading After this he made him a sign to rise.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Javert obeyed with that indefinable smile in which the supremacy of enchained authority is condensed.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
supremacynounUS /səˈpreməsi/
power to dominate or defeat
From this reading Javert obeyed with that indefinable smile in which the supremacy of enchained authority is condensed.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
carry out
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Javert obeyed with that indefinable smile in which the supremacy of enchained authority is condensed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading After this he made him a sign to rise.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After this he made him a sign to rise.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
untiedadjectiveUS /ənˈtaɪd/
not tied
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
Valjean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
precisely as stated
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
at the time that
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
wine-shop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.
