used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “A beautiful sword,” he said, a catch in his voice, “and one that any soldier might rejoice to wear at his side.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading His fingers closed about the fretted ivory hilt, and he read in the fading light the inscription on its blue-steel blade.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading THE ALARM Dad received the weapon from her hands as reverently as she had tendered it.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading The sword of a brave man, I am sure.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His fingers closed about the fretted ivory hilt, and he read in the fading light the inscription on its blue-steel blade.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “A beautiful sword,” he said, a catch in his voice, “and one that any soldier might rejoice to wear at his side.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE ALARM Dad received the weapon from her hands as reverently as she had tendered it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “A beautiful sword,” he said, a catch in his voice, “and one that any soldier might rejoice to wear at his side.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Then he handed it back.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading “A beautiful sword,” he said, a catch in his voice, “and one that any soldier might rejoice to wear at his side.
bladenounUS /bleɪd/
especially a leaf of grass or the broad portion of a leaf as distinct from the petiole
From this reading His fingers closed about the fretted ivory hilt, and he read in the fading light the inscription on its blue-steel blade.
blue-steel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His fingers closed about the fretted ivory hilt, and he read in the fading light the inscription on its blue-steel blade.
possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading The sword of a brave man, I am sure.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading “A beautiful sword,” he said, a catch in his voice, “and one that any soldier might rejoice to wear at his side.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading His fingers closed about the fretted ivory hilt, and he read in the fading light the inscription on its blue-steel blade.
DadnounUS /dæd/
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading THE ALARM Dad received the weapon from her hands as reverently as she had tendered it.
fadingnounUS /ˈfeɪdɪŋ/
weakening in force or intensity
From this reading His fingers closed about the fretted ivory hilt, and he read in the fading light the inscription on its blue-steel blade.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading His fingers closed about the fretted ivory hilt, and he read in the fading light the inscription on its blue-steel blade.
frettedadjectiveUS /ˈfretɪd/
having frets
From this reading His fingers closed about the fretted ivory hilt, and he read in the fading light the inscription on its blue-steel blade.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE ALARM Dad received the weapon from her hands as reverently as she had tendered it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE ALARM Dad received the weapon from her hands as reverently as she had tendered it.
having or involving the use of hands
From this reading Then he handed it back.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading THE ALARM Dad received the weapon from her hands as reverently as she had tendered it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His fingers closed about the fretted ivory hilt, and he read in the fading light the inscription on its blue-steel blade.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE ALARM Dad received the weapon from her hands as reverently as she had tendered it.
hiltnounUS /hɪlt/
the handle of a sword or dagger
From this reading His fingers closed about the fretted ivory hilt, and he read in the fading light the inscription on its blue-steel blade.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His fingers closed about the fretted ivory hilt, and he read in the fading light the inscription on its blue-steel blade.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The sword of a brave man, I am sure.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His fingers closed about the fretted ivory hilt, and he read in the fading light the inscription on its blue-steel blade.
inscriptionnounUS /ˌɪnˈskrɪpʃən/
letters inscribed (especially words engraved or carved) on something
From this reading His fingers closed about the fretted ivory hilt, and he read in the fading light the inscription on its blue-steel blade.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE ALARM Dad received the weapon from her hands as reverently as she had tendered it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading His fingers closed about the fretted ivory hilt, and he read in the fading light the inscription on its blue-steel blade.
ivorynounUS /ˈaɪvəri/
a hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses
From this reading His fingers closed about the fretted ivory hilt, and he read in the fading light the inscription on its blue-steel blade.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading His fingers closed about the fretted ivory hilt, and he read in the fading light the inscription on its blue-steel blade.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The sword of a brave man, I am sure.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “A beautiful sword,” he said, a catch in his voice, “and one that any soldier might rejoice to wear at his side.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sword of a brave man, I am sure.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His fingers closed about the fretted ivory hilt, and he read in the fading light the inscription on its blue-steel blade.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “A beautiful sword,” he said, a catch in his voice, “and one that any soldier might rejoice to wear at his side.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading His fingers closed about the fretted ivory hilt, and he read in the fading light the inscription on its blue-steel blade.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading THE ALARM Dad received the weapon from her hands as reverently as she had tendered it.
rejoiceverbUS /rɪˈdʒɔɪs/
feel happiness or joy
From this reading “A beautiful sword,” he said, a catch in his voice, “and one that any soldier might rejoice to wear at his side.
reverentlyadverbUS /ˈrevərəntli/
with reverence; in a reverent manner
From this reading THE ALARM Dad received the weapon from her hands as reverently as she had tendered it.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “A beautiful sword,” he said, a catch in his voice, “and one that any soldier might rejoice to wear at his side.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE ALARM Dad received the weapon from her hands as reverently as she had tendered it.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading “A beautiful sword,” he said, a catch in his voice, “and one that any soldier might rejoice to wear at his side.
an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading “A beautiful sword,” he said, a catch in his voice, “and one that any soldier might rejoice to wear at his side.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading The sword of a brave man, I am sure.
a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
From this reading “A beautiful sword,” he said, a catch in his voice, “and one that any soldier might rejoice to wear at his side.
tenderedverbUS /ˈtendərd/
past form of “tender” — offer or present for acceptance
From this reading THE ALARM Dad received the weapon from her hands as reverently as she had tendered it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “A beautiful sword,” he said, a catch in his voice, “and one that any soldier might rejoice to wear at his side.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ALARM Dad received the weapon from her hands as reverently as she had tendered it.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he handed it back.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “A beautiful sword,” he said, a catch in his voice, “and one that any soldier might rejoice to wear at his side.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading “A beautiful sword,” he said, a catch in his voice, “and one that any soldier might rejoice to wear at his side.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading THE ALARM Dad received the weapon from her hands as reverently as she had tendered it.
be dressed in
From this reading “A beautiful sword,” he said, a catch in his voice, “and one that any soldier might rejoice to wear at his side.
