used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
acrobatsnounUS /ˈækrəbæts/
plural of “acrobat” — an athlete who performs acts requiring skill and agility and coordination
From this reading "A swarm of lady acrobats hanging head downward from trapezes and praying with joined feet!" he said, yawning.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He looked at the window.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
crystalnounUS /ˈkrɪstəl/
a solid formed by the solidification of a chemical and having a highly regular atomic structure
From this reading The panes were flowered with crystal fleurs de lys and frost ferns.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading The panes were flowered with crystal fleurs de lys and frost ferns.
defiling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
demonnounUS /ˈdiːmən/
an evil supernatural being
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
DesnounUS /des/
a potent estrogen used in medicine and in feed for livestock and poultry
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
downwardadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading "A swarm of lady acrobats hanging head downward from trapezes and praying with joined feet!" he said, yawning.
Durtal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next morning Durtal woke later than usual.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading "A swarm of lady acrobats hanging head downward from trapezes and praying with joined feet!" he said, yawning.
fernsnounUS /fɜːrnz/
plural of “fern” — 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 The panes were flowered with crystal fleurs de lys and frost ferns.
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
fleurs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The panes were flowered with crystal fleurs de lys and frost ferns.
floweredadjectiveUS /ˈflaʊərd/
resembling or made of or suggestive of flowers
From this reading The panes were flowered with crystal fleurs de lys and frost ferns.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "A swarm of lady acrobats hanging head downward from trapezes and praying with joined feet!" he said, yawning.
frostnounUS /frɔːst/
ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)
From this reading The panes were flowered with crystal fleurs de lys and frost ferns.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading "A swarm of lady acrobats hanging head downward from trapezes and praying with joined feet!" he said, yawning.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading "A swarm of lady acrobats hanging head downward from trapezes and praying with joined feet!" he said, yawning.
Hermies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
of or relating to two people who are married to each other
From this reading "A swarm of lady acrobats hanging head downward from trapezes and praying with joined feet!" he said, yawning.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading "A swarm of lady acrobats hanging head downward from trapezes and praying with joined feet!" he said, yawning.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Next morning Durtal woke later than usual.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked at the window.
lys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The panes were flowered with crystal fleurs de lys and frost ferns.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Next morning Durtal woke later than usual.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Next morning Durtal woke later than usual.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
panesnounUS /peɪnz/
plural of “pane” — sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors
From this reading The panes were flowered with crystal fleurs de lys and frost ferns.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
prayingverbUS /ˈpreɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “pray” — address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading "A swarm of lady acrobats hanging head downward from trapezes and praying with joined feet!" he said, yawning.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "A swarm of lady acrobats hanging head downward from trapezes and praying with joined feet!" he said, yawning.
sarabandnoun
music composed for dancing the saraband
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
societiesnounUS /səˈsaɪətiz/
plural of “society” — an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
swarmnounUS /swɔːrm/
a moving crowd
From this reading "A swarm of lady acrobats hanging head downward from trapezes and praying with joined feet!" he said, yawning.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Next morning Durtal woke later than usual.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
trapezes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A swarm of lady acrobats hanging head downward from trapezes and praying with joined feet!" he said, yawning.
soldiers collectively
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Next morning Durtal woke later than usual.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The panes were flowered with crystal fleurs de lys and frost ferns.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading He looked at the window.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "A swarm of lady acrobats hanging head downward from trapezes and praying with joined feet!" he said, yawning.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading Next morning Durtal woke later than usual.
worshippersnounUS /ˈwɜːrʃɪpərz/
plural of “worshipper” — a person who has religious faith
From this reading Before he opened his eyes there was a sudden flash of light in his brain, and troops of demon worshippers, like the societies of which Des Hermies had spoken, went defiling past him, dancing a saraband.
yawningadjectiveUS /ˈjɔːnɪŋ/
gaping open as if threatening to engulf someone or something
From this reading "A swarm of lady acrobats hanging head downward from trapezes and praying with joined feet!" he said, yawning.
