used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A verbal message he carried now--command for them to cease fighting.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
aide-de-campnoun
an officer who acts as military assistant to a more senior officer
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was but vacillating and frightened, Langrish playing the traitor, as the events proved, ending in capitulation.
a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
From this reading "And why?" demanded the astonished knight, other voices asking the same, as much in anger as astonishment.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was but vacillating and frightened, Langrish playing the traitor, as the events proved, ending in capitulation.
the verbal act of requesting
From this reading "And why?" demanded the astonished knight, other voices asking the same, as much in anger as astonishment.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading "And why?" demanded the astonished knight, other voices asking the same, as much in anger as astonishment.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading "And why?" demanded the astonished knight, other voices asking the same, as much in anger as astonishment.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Birch believed it was, though not on the part of Fiennes.
BirchnounUS /bɜːrtʃ/
hard close-grained wood of any of various birch trees; used especially in furniture and interior finishes and plywood
From this reading Birch believed it was, though not on the part of Fiennes.
the act of breaking something
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was but vacillating and frightened, Langrish playing the traitor, as the events proved, ending in capitulation.
capitulationnounUS /kəˌpɪtʃəˈleɪʃən/
a document containing the terms of surrender
From this reading He was but vacillating and frightened, Langrish playing the traitor, as the events proved, ending in capitulation.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading A verbal message he carried now--command for them to cease fighting.
ceaseverbUS /siːs/
put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading A verbal message he carried now--command for them to cease fighting.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading A verbal message he carried now--command for them to cease fighting.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading "And why?" demanded the astonished knight, other voices asking the same, as much in anger as astonishment.
despatchverb
send away towards a designated goal
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
endingnounUS /ˈendɪŋ/
the end of a word (a suffix or inflectional ending or final morpheme)
From this reading He was but vacillating and frightened, Langrish playing the traitor, as the events proved, ending in capitulation.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading He was but vacillating and frightened, Langrish playing the traitor, as the events proved, ending in capitulation.
Fiennes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Birch believed it was, though not on the part of Fiennes.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading A verbal message he carried now--command for them to cease fighting.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A verbal message he carried now--command for them to cease fighting.
made afraid
From this reading He was but vacillating and frightened, Langrish playing the traitor, as the events proved, ending in capitulation.
gallopingverbUS /ˈɡæləpɪŋ/
-ing form of “gallop” — ride at a galloping pace
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was but vacillating and frightened, Langrish playing the traitor, as the events proved, ending in capitulation.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was but vacillating and frightened, Langrish playing the traitor, as the events proved, ending in capitulation.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Birch believed it was, though not on the part of Fiennes.
originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit
From this reading "And why?" demanded the astonished knight, other voices asking the same, as much in anger as astonishment.
Langrish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was but vacillating and frightened, Langrish playing the traitor, as the events proved, ending in capitulation.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading A verbal message he carried now--command for them to cease fighting.
MontserratnounUS /mɑːnsərˈɑːt/
a volcanic island in the Caribbean; in the West Indies
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading "And why?" demanded the astonished knight, other voices asking the same, as much in anger as astonishment.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Birch believed it was, though not on the part of Fiennes.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A verbal message he carried now--command for them to cease fighting.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Birch believed it was, though not on the part of Fiennes.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Birch believed it was, though not on the part of Fiennes.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading "And why?" demanded the astonished knight, other voices asking the same, as much in anger as astonishment.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Birch believed it was, though not on the part of Fiennes.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading He was but vacillating and frightened, Langrish playing the traitor, as the events proved, ending in capitulation.
established beyond doubt
From this reading He was but vacillating and frightened, Langrish playing the traitor, as the events proved, ending in capitulation.
purportverbUS /ˈpɜːrpɔːrt/
have the often specious appearance of being, intending, or claiming
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
Richard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
Identical; not different.
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
cut with a saw
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
signalsnounUS /ˈsɪɡnəlz/
plural of “signal” — any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
term of address for a man
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
not in physical motion
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Birch believed it was, though not on the part of Fiennes.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Birch believed it was, though not on the part of Fiennes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
in the direction of
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
traitornounUS /ˈtreɪtər/
someone who betrays his country by committing treason
From this reading He was but vacillating and frightened, Langrish playing the traitor, as the events proved, ending in capitulation.
troopersnounUS /ˈtruːpərz/
plural of “trooper” — a soldier in a motorized army unit
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
vacillatingadjectiveUS /ˈvæsəleɪtɪŋ/
uncertain in purpose or action
From this reading He was but vacillating and frightened, Langrish playing the traitor, as the events proved, ending in capitulation.
verbaladjectiveUS /ˈvɜːrbəl/
communicated in the form of words
From this reading A verbal message he carried now--command for them to cease fighting.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "And why?" demanded the astonished knight, other voices asking the same, as much in anger as astonishment.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Birch believed it was, though not on the part of Fiennes.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
which person or people
From this reading But while Sir Richard and his troopers were still in doubt about the purport of the signals, they saw an aide-de-camp galloping towards them--the same who brought the despatch to Montserrat House at the breaking up of the ball.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "And why?" demanded the astonished knight, other voices asking the same, as much in anger as astonishment.
