used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STRANGE DUEL Now, Francis Stafford knew but little of the noble art of fencing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Once or twice her father had given her the foils and shown her some of the attitudes and thrusts, but beyond that her knowledge did not extend.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading It was with considerable trepidation, therefore, that she thought of the approaching combat.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading A STRANGE DUEL Now, Francis Stafford knew but little of the noble art of fencing.
attitudesnounUS /ˈætətuːdz/
plural of “attitude” — a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading Once or twice her father had given her the foils and shown her some of the attitudes and thrusts, but beyond that her knowledge did not extend.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Once or twice her father had given her the foils and shown her some of the attitudes and thrusts, but beyond that her knowledge did not extend.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A STRANGE DUEL Now, Francis Stafford knew but little of the noble art of fencing.
combatnounUS /ˈkɑːmbæt/
an engagement fought between two military forces
From this reading It was with considerable trepidation, therefore, that she thought of the approaching combat.
large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was with considerable trepidation, therefore, that she thought of the approaching combat.
contestnounUS /ˈkɑːntest/
an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants
From this reading "Were it not that Master Devereaux would impute it to fear I would not engage in such contest.
Devereaux
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Were it not that Master Devereaux would impute it to fear I would not engage in such contest.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Once or twice her father had given her the foils and shown her some of the attitudes and thrusts, but beyond that her knowledge did not extend.
DUELnounUS /ˈduːəl/
a prearranged fight with deadly weapons by two people (accompanied by seconds) in order to settle a quarrel over a point of honor
From this reading A STRANGE DUEL Now, Francis Stafford knew but little of the noble art of fencing.
engageverbUS /enˈɡeɪdʒ/
carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in
From this reading "Were it not that Master Devereaux would impute it to fear I would not engage in such contest.
extendverbUS /ɪkˈstend/
extend in scope or range or area
From this reading Once or twice her father had given her the foils and shown her some of the attitudes and thrusts, but beyond that her knowledge did not extend.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Once or twice her father had given her the foils and shown her some of the attitudes and thrusts, but beyond that her knowledge did not extend.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading "Were it not that Master Devereaux would impute it to fear I would not engage in such contest.
fencingnounUS /ˈfensɪŋ/
a barrier that serves to enclose an area
From this reading A STRANGE DUEL Now, Francis Stafford knew but little of the noble art of fencing.
foilsnounUS /fɔɪlz/
plural of “foil” — a piece of thin and flexible sheet metal
From this reading Once or twice her father had given her the foils and shown her some of the attitudes and thrusts, but beyond that her knowledge did not extend.
Francis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STRANGE DUEL Now, Francis Stafford knew but little of the noble art of fencing.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Once or twice her father had given her the foils and shown her some of the attitudes and thrusts, but beyond that her knowledge did not extend.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Once or twice her father had given her the foils and shown her some of the attitudes and thrusts, but beyond that her knowledge did not extend.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Once or twice her father had given her the foils and shown her some of the attitudes and thrusts, but beyond that her knowledge did not extend.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Were it not that Master Devereaux would impute it to fear I would not engage in such contest.
imputeverbUS /ˌɪmˈpjuːt/
attribute or credit to
From this reading "Were it not that Master Devereaux would impute it to fear I would not engage in such contest.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Were it not that Master Devereaux would impute it to fear I would not engage in such contest.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was with considerable trepidation, therefore, that she thought of the approaching combat.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading A STRANGE DUEL Now, Francis Stafford knew but little of the noble art of fencing.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading Once or twice her father had given her the foils and shown her some of the attitudes and thrusts, but beyond that her knowledge did not extend.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A STRANGE DUEL Now, Francis Stafford knew but little of the noble art of fencing.
take in marriage
From this reading "Marry!" she mused.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading "Were it not that Master Devereaux would impute it to fear I would not engage in such contest.
musedverbUS /mjuːzd/
past form of “muse” — reflect deeply on a subject
From this reading "Marry!" she mused.
nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/
impressive in appearance
From this reading A STRANGE DUEL Now, Francis Stafford knew but little of the noble art of fencing.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Once or twice her father had given her the foils and shown her some of the attitudes and thrusts, but beyond that her knowledge did not extend.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A STRANGE DUEL Now, Francis Stafford knew but little of the noble art of fencing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A STRANGE DUEL Now, Francis Stafford knew but little of the noble art of fencing.
on one occasion
From this reading Once or twice her father had given her the foils and shown her some of the attitudes and thrusts, but beyond that her knowledge did not extend.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Once or twice her father had given her the foils and shown her some of the attitudes and thrusts, but beyond that her knowledge did not extend.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was with considerable trepidation, therefore, that she thought of the approaching combat.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Once or twice her father had given her the foils and shown her some of the attitudes and thrusts, but beyond that her knowledge did not extend.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Once or twice her father had given her the foils and shown her some of the attitudes and thrusts, but beyond that her knowledge did not extend.
Stafford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STRANGE DUEL Now, Francis Stafford knew but little of the noble art of fencing.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading A STRANGE DUEL Now, Francis Stafford knew but little of the noble art of fencing.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "Were it not that Master Devereaux would impute it to fear I would not engage in such contest.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Once or twice her father had given her the foils and shown her some of the attitudes and thrusts, but beyond that her knowledge did not extend.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A STRANGE DUEL Now, Francis Stafford knew but little of the noble art of fencing.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading It was with considerable trepidation, therefore, that she thought of the approaching combat.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading It was with considerable trepidation, therefore, that she thought of the approaching combat.
thrustsnounUS /θrʌsts/
plural of “thrust” — the force used in pushing
From this reading Once or twice her father had given her the foils and shown her some of the attitudes and thrusts, but beyond that her knowledge did not extend.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Were it not that Master Devereaux would impute it to fear I would not engage in such contest.
trepidationnounUS /ˌtrepɪˈdeɪʃən/
a feeling of alarm or dread
From this reading It was with considerable trepidation, therefore, that she thought of the approaching combat.
two times
From this reading Once or twice her father had given her the foils and shown her some of the attitudes and thrusts, but beyond that her knowledge did not extend.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was with considerable trepidation, therefore, that she thought of the approaching combat.
Wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Were it not that Master Devereaux would impute it to fear I would not engage in such contest.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was with considerable trepidation, therefore, that she thought of the approaching combat.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "Were it not that Master Devereaux would impute it to fear I would not engage in such contest.
