used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading With a rope made of their bedclothes they lowered themselves clean over the ramparts on to the edge of the precipice over the river; and along this they passed--having no daylight to make them giddy--and took their way northwards across the fields.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading This room was an upstairs one in a building on the edge of the ramparts, and after a few nights they broke through the ceiling into an empty chamber, which had a window looking on the roof.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading With a rope made of their bedclothes they lowered themselves clean over the ramparts on to the edge of the precipice over the river; and along this they passed--having no daylight to make them giddy--and took their way northwards across the fields.
a quantity of money
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading This room was an upstairs one in a building on the edge of the ramparts, and after a few nights they broke through the ceiling into an empty chamber, which had a window looking on the roof.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
bedclothesnoun
coverings that are used on a bed
From this reading With a rope made of their bedclothes they lowered themselves clean over the ramparts on to the edge of the precipice over the river; and along this they passed--having no daylight to make them giddy--and took their way northwards across the fields.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
brought into existence
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
lacking funds
From this reading This room was an upstairs one in a building on the edge of the ramparts, and after a few nights they broke through the ceiling into an empty chamber, which had a window looking on the roof.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading This room was an upstairs one in a building on the edge of the ramparts, and after a few nights they broke through the ceiling into an empty chamber, which had a window looking on the roof.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading This room was an upstairs one in a building on the edge of the ramparts, and after a few nights they broke through the ceiling into an empty chamber, which had a window looking on the roof.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading This room was an upstairs one in a building on the edge of the ramparts, and after a few nights they broke through the ceiling into an empty chamber, which had a window looking on the roof.
plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading With a rope made of their bedclothes they lowered themselves clean over the ramparts on to the edge of the precipice over the river; and along this they passed--having no daylight to make them giddy--and took their way northwards across the fields.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Well, it doesn't come into my tale to tell you what they went through.
contaminateverbUS /kənˈtæməneɪt/
make impure
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading With a rope made of their bedclothes they lowered themselves clean over the ramparts on to the edge of the precipice over the river; and along this they passed--having no daylight to make them giddy--and took their way northwards across the fields.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
doesn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, it doesn't come into my tale to tell you what they went through.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading This room was an upstairs one in a building on the edge of the ramparts, and after a few nights they broke through the ceiling into an empty chamber, which had a window looking on the roof.
the male ruler of an empire
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading This room was an upstairs one in a building on the edge of the ramparts, and after a few nights they broke through the ceiling into an empty chamber, which had a window looking on the roof.
experiencing or showing fear
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading This room was an upstairs one in a building on the edge of the ramparts, and after a few nights they broke through the ceiling into an empty chamber, which had a window looking on the roof.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading With a rope made of their bedclothes they lowered themselves clean over the ramparts on to the edge of the precipice over the river; and along this they passed--having no daylight to make them giddy--and took their way northwards across the fields.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
fortnightnounUS /ˈfɔːrtnaɪt/
a period of fourteen consecutive days
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
galleysnounUS /ˈɡæliz/
plural of “galley” — a large medieval vessel with a single deck propelled by sails and oars with guns at stern and prow; a complement of 1,000 men; used mainly in the Mediterranean for war and trading
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
giddyadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪdi/
having or causing a whirling sensation; liable to falling
From this reading With a rope made of their bedclothes they lowered themselves clean over the ramparts on to the edge of the precipice over the river; and along this they passed--having no daylight to make them giddy--and took their way northwards across the fields.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This room was an upstairs one in a building on the edge of the ramparts, and after a few nights they broke through the ceiling into an empty chamber, which had a window looking on the roof.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading With a rope made of their bedclothes they lowered themselves clean over the ramparts on to the edge of the precipice over the river; and along this they passed--having no daylight to make them giddy--and took their way northwards across the fields.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
the state of being honored
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading This room was an upstairs one in a building on the edge of the ramparts, and after a few nights they broke through the ceiling into an empty chamber, which had a window looking on the roof.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
jailornoun
someone who guards prisoners
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading This room was an upstairs one in a building on the edge of the ramparts, and after a few nights they broke through the ceiling into an empty chamber, which had a window looking on the roof.
loweredadjectiveUS /ˈloʊərd/
below the surround or below the normal position
From this reading With a rope made of their bedclothes they lowered themselves clean over the ramparts on to the edge of the precipice over the river; and along this they passed--having no daylight to make them giddy--and took their way northwards across the fields.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading With a rope made of their bedclothes they lowered themselves clean over the ramparts on to the edge of the precipice over the river; and along this they passed--having no daylight to make them giddy--and took their way northwards across the fields.
engage in
From this reading With a rope made of their bedclothes they lowered themselves clean over the ramparts on to the edge of the precipice over the river; and along this they passed--having no daylight to make them giddy--and took their way northwards across the fields.
marchedverbUS /mɑːrtʃt/
past form of “march” — march in a procession
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Well, it doesn't come into my tale to tell you what they went through.
information about recent and important events
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading This room was an upstairs one in a building on the edge of the ramparts, and after a few nights they broke through the ceiling into an empty chamber, which had a window looking on the roof.
not any; not one
From this reading With a rope made of their bedclothes they lowered themselves clean over the ramparts on to the edge of the precipice over the river; and along this they passed--having no daylight to make them giddy--and took their way northwards across the fields.
northwardsadverb
in a northern direction
From this reading With a rope made of their bedclothes they lowered themselves clean over the ramparts on to the edge of the precipice over the river; and along this they passed--having no daylight to make them giddy--and took their way northwards across the fields.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This room was an upstairs one in a building on the edge of the ramparts, and after a few nights they broke through the ceiling into an empty chamber, which had a window looking on the roof.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading This room was an upstairs one in a building on the edge of the ramparts, and after a few nights they broke through the ceiling into an empty chamber, which had a window looking on the roof.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading With a rope made of their bedclothes they lowered themselves clean over the ramparts on to the edge of the precipice over the river; and along this they passed--having no daylight to make them giddy--and took their way northwards across the fields.
pardonedverbUS /ˈpɑːrdənd/
past form of “pardon” — accept an excuse for
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading With a rope made of their bedclothes they lowered themselves clean over the ramparts on to the edge of the precipice over the river; and along this they passed--having no daylight to make them giddy--and took their way northwards across the fields.
precipicenounUS /ˈpresəpəs/
a very steep cliff
From this reading With a rope made of their bedclothes they lowered themselves clean over the ramparts on to the edge of the precipice over the river; and along this they passed--having no daylight to make them giddy--and took their way northwards across the fields.
plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
housing available for people to live in
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
rampartsnounUS /ˈræmpɑːrts/
plural of “rampart” — an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
From this reading This room was an upstairs one in a building on the edge of the ramparts, and after a few nights they broke through the ceiling into an empty chamber, which had a window looking on the roof.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading With a rope made of their bedclothes they lowered themselves clean over the ramparts on to the edge of the precipice over the river; and along this they passed--having no daylight to make them giddy--and took their way northwards across the fields.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading This room was an upstairs one in a building on the edge of the ramparts, and after a few nights they broke through the ceiling into an empty chamber, which had a window looking on the roof.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
a strong line
From this reading With a rope made of their bedclothes they lowered themselves clean over the ramparts on to the edge of the precipice over the river; and along this they passed--having no daylight to make them giddy--and took their way northwards across the fields.
a male human offspring
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Well, it doesn't come into my tale to tell you what they went through.
express in words
From this reading Well, it doesn't come into my tale to tell you what they went through.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading This room was an upstairs one in a building on the edge of the ramparts, and after a few nights they broke through the ceiling into an empty chamber, which had a window looking on the roof.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading With a rope made of their bedclothes they lowered themselves clean over the ramparts on to the edge of the precipice over the river; and along this they passed--having no daylight to make them giddy--and took their way northwards across the fields.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
on a floor above
From this reading This room was an upstairs one in a building on the edge of the ramparts, and after a few nights they broke through the ceiling into an empty chamber, which had a window looking on the roof.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading With a rope made of their bedclothes they lowered themselves clean over the ramparts on to the edge of the precipice over the river; and along this they passed--having no daylight to make them giddy--and took their way northwards across the fields.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Well, it doesn't come into my tale to tell you what they went through.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Well, it doesn't come into my tale to tell you what they went through.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Well, it doesn't come into my tale to tell you what they went through.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This room was an upstairs one in a building on the edge of the ramparts, and after a few nights they broke through the ceiling into an empty chamber, which had a window looking on the roof.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
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 This room was an upstairs one in a building on the edge of the ramparts, and after a few nights they broke through the ceiling into an empty chamber, which had a window looking on the roof.
in the company of; together with
From this reading This, as it turned out, didn't amount to much; for, while they were waiting to be marched off to the galleys, their jailor came with news that a son was born to the Emperor, and they were pardoned in honour of it.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But instead of putting them back in their old quarters, he fixed them up for a fortnight in a room by themselves, being fearful that such bad characters would contaminate the other prisoners.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Well, it doesn't come into my tale to tell you what they went through.
