used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
accompanyverbUS /əˈkʌmpəni/
be present or associated with an event or entity
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was a natural archway overhung with wild fig and caper bushes, and having an aspect towards the delightfully blue waters of the Mediterranean.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
archwaynounUS /ˈɑːrtʃweɪ/
a passageway under a curved masonry construction
From this reading It was a natural archway overhung with wild fig and caper bushes, and having an aspect towards the delightfully blue waters of the Mediterranean.
a distinct feature or element in a problem
From this reading It was a natural archway overhung with wild fig and caper bushes, and having an aspect towards the delightfully blue waters of the Mediterranean.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There had once been a temple to some god or goddess at the spot, and they seated themselves upon a fallen column in the recess.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There had once been a temple to some god or goddess at the spot, and they seated themselves upon a fallen column in the recess.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading It was a natural archway overhung with wild fig and caper bushes, and having an aspect towards the delightfully blue waters of the Mediterranean.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading It was a natural archway overhung with wild fig and caper bushes, and having an aspect towards the delightfully blue waters of the Mediterranean.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This was shaded by overhanging and luxuriant tufts of dew-bespangled maidenhair fern; it was, in fact, a most enchanting spot.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Having dismounted and left their steeds with some slaves, the twain wandered on until they came to a sort of cave.
caperverbUS /ˈkeɪpər/
jump about playfully
From this reading It was a natural archway overhung with wild fig and caper bushes, and having an aspect towards the delightfully blue waters of the Mediterranean.
CarthaginiannounUS /ˌkɑːrθəˈdʒɪniən/
a native or inhabitant of ancient Carthage
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading Having dismounted and left their steeds with some slaves, the twain wandered on until they came to a sort of cave.
columnnounUS /ˈkɑːləm/
a line of units following one after another
From this reading There had once been a temple to some god or goddess at the spot, and they seated themselves upon a fallen column in the recess.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
delightfullyadverbUS /dɪˈlaɪtfəli/
in a delightful manner
From this reading It was a natural archway overhung with wild fig and caper bushes, and having an aspect towards the delightfully blue waters of the Mediterranean.
dew-bespangled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was shaded by overhanging and luxuriant tufts of dew-bespangled maidenhair fern; it was, in fact, a most enchanting spot.
dismounted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having dismounted and left their steeds with some slaves, the twain wandered on until they came to a sort of cave.
enchantingadjectiveUS /enˈtʃæntɪŋ/
capturing interest as if by a spell
From this reading This was shaded by overhanging and luxuriant tufts of dew-bespangled maidenhair fern; it was, in fact, a most enchanting spot.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading This was shaded by overhanging and luxuriant tufts of dew-bespangled maidenhair fern; it was, in fact, a most enchanting spot.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading There had once been a temple to some god or goddess at the spot, and they seated themselves upon a fallen column in the recess.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
fernnounUS /fɜːrn/
any of numerous flowerless and seedless vascular plants having true roots from a rhizome and fronds that uncurl upward; reproduce by spores
From this reading This was shaded by overhanging and luxuriant tufts of dew-bespangled maidenhair fern; it was, in fact, a most enchanting spot.
fignounUS /fɪɡ/
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading It was a natural archway overhung with wild fig and caper bushes, and having an aspect towards the delightfully blue waters of the Mediterranean.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading There had once been a temple to some god or goddess at the spot, and they seated themselves upon a fallen column in the recess.
goddessnounUS /ˈɡɑːdəs/
a female deity
From this reading There had once been a temple to some god or goddess at the spot, and they seated themselves upon a fallen column in the recess.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There had once been a temple to some god or goddess at the spot, and they seated themselves upon a fallen column in the recess.
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Having dismounted and left their steeds with some slaves, the twain wandered on until they came to a sort of cave.
headlandnoun
a natural elevation (especially a rocky one that juts out into the sea)
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
horsebacknounUS /ˈhɔːrsbæk/
the back of a horse
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There had once been a temple to some god or goddess at the spot, and they seated themselves upon a fallen column in the recess.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a natural archway overhung with wild fig and caper bushes, and having an aspect towards the delightfully blue waters of the Mediterranean.
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 Having dismounted and left their steeds with some slaves, the twain wandered on until they came to a sort of cave.
luxuriantadjectiveUS /ləɡˈʒɜːriənt/
marked by complexity and richness of detail
From this reading This was shaded by overhanging and luxuriant tufts of dew-bespangled maidenhair fern; it was, in fact, a most enchanting spot.
a female domestic
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
maidenhairnoun
any of various small to large terrestrial ferns of the genus Adiantum having delicate palmately branched fronds
From this reading This was shaded by overhanging and luxuriant tufts of dew-bespangled maidenhair fern; it was, in fact, a most enchanting spot.
MediterraneannounUS /ˌmedətərˈeɪniən/
the largest inland sea; between Europe and Africa and Asia
From this reading It was a natural archway overhung with wild fig and caper bushes, and having an aspect towards the delightfully blue waters of the Mediterranean.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
used to form the superlative
From this reading This was shaded by overhanging and luxuriant tufts of dew-bespangled maidenhair fern; it was, in fact, a most enchanting spot.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading It was a natural archway overhung with wild fig and caper bushes, and having an aspect towards the delightfully blue waters of the Mediterranean.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Having dismounted and left their steeds with some slaves, the twain wandered on until they came to a sort of cave.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
on one occasion
From this reading There had once been a temple to some god or goddess at the spot, and they seated themselves upon a fallen column in the recess.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There had once been a temple to some god or goddess at the spot, and they seated themselves upon a fallen column in the recess.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
overhangingverbUS /ˈoʊvərhæŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “overhang” — project over
From this reading This was shaded by overhanging and luxuriant tufts of dew-bespangled maidenhair fern; it was, in fact, a most enchanting spot.
overhungverbUS /oʊvərˈhʌŋ/
inflected form of “overhang” — project over
From this reading It was a natural archway overhung with wild fig and caper bushes, and having an aspect towards the delightfully blue waters of the Mediterranean.
palm-studded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
persuadedverbUS /pərˈsweɪdɪd/
past form of “persuade” — win approval or support for
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
recessverbUS /rɪˈses/
put into a recess
From this reading There had once been a temple to some god or goddess at the spot, and they seated themselves upon a fallen column in the recess.
refreshingadjectiveUS /rɪˈfreʃɪŋ/
imparting vitality and energy
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
ScipionounUS /ˈsɪpioʊ/
Roman general who commanded the invasion of Carthage in the second Punic War and defeated Hannibal at Zama (circa 237-183 BC)
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
plural of “sea” — a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading There had once been a temple to some god or goddess at the spot, and they seated themselves upon a fallen column in the recess.
shadedadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪdɪd/
protected from heat and light with shade or shadow
From this reading This was shaded by overhanging and luxuriant tufts of dew-bespangled maidenhair fern; it was, in fact, a most enchanting spot.
plural of “slave” — a person who is owned by someone
From this reading Having dismounted and left their steeds with some slaves, the twain wandered on until they came to a sort of cave.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Having dismounted and left their steeds with some slaves, the twain wandered on until they came to a sort of cave.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Having dismounted and left their steeds with some slaves, the twain wandered on until they came to a sort of cave.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading There had once been a temple to some god or goddess at the spot, and they seated themselves upon a fallen column in the recess.
steedsnounUS /stiːdz/
plural of “steed” — (literary) a spirited horse for state of war
From this reading Having dismounted and left their steeds with some slaves, the twain wandered on until they came to a sort of cave.
stretchingnounUS /ˈstretʃɪŋ/
act of expanding by lengthening or widening
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity
From this reading There had once been a temple to some god or goddess at the spot, and they seated themselves upon a fallen column in the recess.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Having dismounted and left their steeds with some slaves, the twain wandered on until they came to a sort of cave.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading There had once been a temple to some god or goddess at the spot, and they seated themselves upon a fallen column in the recess.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Having dismounted and left their steeds with some slaves, the twain wandered on until they came to a sort of cave.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was shaded by overhanging and luxuriant tufts of dew-bespangled maidenhair fern; it was, in fact, a most enchanting spot.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
in the direction of
From this reading It was a natural archway overhung with wild fig and caper bushes, and having an aspect towards the delightfully blue waters of the Mediterranean.
tuftsnounUS /tʌfts/
plural of “tuft” — a bunch of hair or feathers or growing grass
From this reading This was shaded by overhanging and luxuriant tufts of dew-bespangled maidenhair fern; it was, in fact, a most enchanting spot.
twainnounUS /tweɪn/
two items of the same kind
From this reading Having dismounted and left their steeds with some slaves, the twain wandered on until they came to a sort of cave.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Having dismounted and left their steeds with some slaves, the twain wandered on until they came to a sort of cave.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading There had once been a temple to some god or goddess at the spot, and they seated themselves upon a fallen column in the recess.
waftedverbUS /ˈwɑːftɪd/
past form of “waft” — be driven or carried along, as by the air
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading Having dismounted and left their steeds with some slaves, the twain wandered on until they came to a sort of cave.
warriornounUS /ˈwɔːriər/
someone engaged in or experienced in warfare
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading It was a natural archway overhung with wild fig and caper bushes, and having an aspect towards the delightfully blue waters of the Mediterranean.
at the time that
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading It was a natural archway overhung with wild fig and caper bushes, and having an aspect towards the delightfully blue waters of the Mediterranean.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Having dismounted and left their steeds with some slaves, the twain wandered on until they came to a sort of cave.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading There was a cool and refreshing northern breeze wafted off the seas when one morning the young warrior Scipio persuaded the Carthaginian maid to accompany him on horseback to a green, palm-studded headland stretching far out into the sea.
