used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
(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 The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
AREauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading WE ARE HARD BESET I CANNOT say what happened next.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
BESETverbUS /bɪˈset/
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading WE ARE HARD BESET I CANNOT say what happened next.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
breathsnounUS /breθs/
plural of “breath” — the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
CANNOT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WE ARE HARD BESET I CANNOT say what happened next.
plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
cordnounUS /kɔːrd/
a line made of twisted fibers or threads
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
devilishadjectiveUS /ˈdevlɪʃ/
showing the cunning or ingenuity or wickedness typical of a devil
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
a Spanish gentleman or nobleman
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
foesnounUS /foʊz/
plural of “foe” — an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
plural of “form” — the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
ghastlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡæstli/
shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading WE ARE HARD BESET I CANNOT say what happened next.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading WE ARE HARD BESET I CANNOT say what happened next.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
horridadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːrəd/
exceedingly bad
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading WE ARE HARD BESET I CANNOT say what happened next.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading WE ARE HARD BESET I CANNOT say what happened next.
NicholasnounUS /ˈnɪkələs/
a bishop in Asia Minor who is associated with Santa Claus (4th century)
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
not any; not one
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
and nothing more
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
proceedingnounUS /prəˈsiːdɪŋ/
(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
an angry dispute
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
express in words
From this reading WE ARE HARD BESET I CANNOT say what happened next.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
showing reason or sound judgment
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
in the near future
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
speculateverbUS /ˈspekjəleɪt/
to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
a special situation
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading WE ARE HARD BESET I CANNOT say what happened next.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WE ARE HARD BESET I CANNOT say what happened next.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
in the company of; together with
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
writhingadjectiveUS /ˈraɪðɪŋ/
moving in a twisting or snake-like or wormlike fashion
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
