used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There were many duels fought; but, as a general rule, they were not very serious, and the first slight wound decided the matter in hand to the satisfaction of both parties.
matters of personal concern
From this reading Such affairs as the encounter between Giovanni and Del Ferice were very rare in Rome.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading One of the combatants had received two such wounds as would have been sufficient to terminate an ordinary meeting, and the other was lying at death's door stabbed through the throat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Such affairs as the encounter between Giovanni and Del Ferice were very rare in Rome.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Such affairs as the encounter between Giovanni and Del Ferice were very rare in Rome.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading One of the combatants had received two such wounds as would have been sufficient to terminate an ordinary meeting, and the other was lying at death's door stabbed through the throat.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But here there had been a fight for life and death.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Such affairs as the encounter between Giovanni and Del Ferice were very rare in Rome.
the two together, not just one
From this reading There were many duels fought; but, as a general rule, they were not very serious, and the first slight wound decided the matter in hand to the satisfaction of both parties.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There were many duels fought; but, as a general rule, they were not very serious, and the first slight wound decided the matter in hand to the satisfaction of both parties.
combatantsnounUS /kəmˈbætənts/
plural of “combatant” — someone who fights (or is fighting)
From this reading One of the combatants had received two such wounds as would have been sufficient to terminate an ordinary meeting, and the other was lying at death's door stabbed through the throat.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading But here there had been a fight for life and death.
death'snounUS /deθs/
possessive form of “death” — the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading One of the combatants had received two such wounds as would have been sufficient to terminate an ordinary meeting, and the other was lying at death's door stabbed through the throat.
recognizable; marked
From this reading There were many duels fought; but, as a general rule, they were not very serious, and the first slight wound decided the matter in hand to the satisfaction of both parties.
Del
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such affairs as the encounter between Giovanni and Del Ferice were very rare in Rome.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading One of the combatants had received two such wounds as would have been sufficient to terminate an ordinary meeting, and the other was lying at death's door stabbed through the throat.
duelsnounUS /ˈduːəlz/
plural of “duel” — 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 There were many duels fought; but, as a general rule, they were not very serious, and the first slight wound decided the matter in hand to the satisfaction of both parties.
encounterverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntər/
come together
From this reading Such affairs as the encounter between Giovanni and Del Ferice were very rare in Rome.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading Society was frantic with excitement.
Ferice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such affairs as the encounter between Giovanni and Del Ferice were very rare in Rome.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading But here there had been a fight for life and death.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading There were many duels fought; but, as a general rule, they were not very serious, and the first slight wound decided the matter in hand to the satisfaction of both parties.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But here there had been a fight for life and death.
inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading There were many duels fought; but, as a general rule, they were not very serious, and the first slight wound decided the matter in hand to the satisfaction of both parties.
franticadjectiveUS /ˈfræntɪk/
excessively agitated; distraught with fear or other violent emotion
From this reading Society was frantic with excitement.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading There were many duels fought; but, as a general rule, they were not very serious, and the first slight wound decided the matter in hand to the satisfaction of both parties.
Giovanni
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such affairs as the encounter between Giovanni and Del Ferice were very rare in Rome.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But here there had been a fight for life and death.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading There were many duels fought; but, as a general rule, they were not very serious, and the first slight wound decided the matter in hand to the satisfaction of both parties.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading One of the combatants had received two such wounds as would have been sufficient to terminate an ordinary meeting, and the other was lying at death's door stabbed through the throat.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading But here there had been a fight for life and death.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Such affairs as the encounter between Giovanni and Del Ferice were very rare in Rome.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading But here there had been a fight for life and death.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading One of the combatants had received two such wounds as would have been sufficient to terminate an ordinary meeting, and the other was lying at death's door stabbed through the throat.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading There were many duels fought; but, as a general rule, they were not very serious, and the first slight wound decided the matter in hand to the satisfaction of both parties.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading There were many duels fought; but, as a general rule, they were not very serious, and the first slight wound decided the matter in hand to the satisfaction of both parties.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading One of the combatants had received two such wounds as would have been sufficient to terminate an ordinary meeting, and the other was lying at death's door stabbed through the throat.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There were many duels fought; but, as a general rule, they were not very serious, and the first slight wound decided the matter in hand to the satisfaction of both parties.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There were many duels fought; but, as a general rule, they were not very serious, and the first slight wound decided the matter in hand to the satisfaction of both parties.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of the combatants had received two such wounds as would have been sufficient to terminate an ordinary meeting, and the other was lying at death's door stabbed through the throat.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading One of the combatants had received two such wounds as would have been sufficient to terminate an ordinary meeting, and the other was lying at death's door stabbed through the throat.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading One of the combatants had received two such wounds as would have been sufficient to terminate an ordinary meeting, and the other was lying at death's door stabbed through the throat.
plural of “party” — an organization to gain political power
From this reading There were many duels fought; but, as a general rule, they were not very serious, and the first slight wound decided the matter in hand to the satisfaction of both parties.
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading Such affairs as the encounter between Giovanni and Del Ferice were very rare in Rome.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading One of the combatants had received two such wounds as would have been sufficient to terminate an ordinary meeting, and the other was lying at death's door stabbed through the throat.
capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire
From this reading Such affairs as the encounter between Giovanni and Del Ferice were very rare in Rome.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading There were many duels fought; but, as a general rule, they were not very serious, and the first slight wound decided the matter in hand to the satisfaction of both parties.
the contentment one feels when one has fulfilled a desire, need, or expectation
From this reading There were many duels fought; but, as a general rule, they were not very serious, and the first slight wound decided the matter in hand to the satisfaction of both parties.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading There were many duels fought; but, as a general rule, they were not very serious, and the first slight wound decided the matter in hand to the satisfaction of both parties.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading There were many duels fought; but, as a general rule, they were not very serious, and the first slight wound decided the matter in hand to the satisfaction of both parties.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading Society was frantic with excitement.
stabbedverbUS /stæbd/
inflected form of “stab” — use a knife on
From this reading One of the combatants had received two such wounds as would have been sufficient to terminate an ordinary meeting, and the other was lying at death's door stabbed through the throat.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such affairs as the encounter between Giovanni and Del Ferice were very rare in Rome.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading One of the combatants had received two such wounds as would have been sufficient to terminate an ordinary meeting, and the other was lying at death's door stabbed through the throat.
terminateverbUS /ˈtɜːrməneɪt/
bring to an end or halt
From this reading One of the combatants had received two such wounds as would have been sufficient to terminate an ordinary meeting, and the other was lying at death's door stabbed through the throat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Such affairs as the encounter between Giovanni and Del Ferice were very rare in Rome.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were many duels fought; but, as a general rule, they were not very serious, and the first slight wound decided the matter in hand to the satisfaction of both parties.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There were many duels fought; but, as a general rule, they were not very serious, and the first slight wound decided the matter in hand to the satisfaction of both parties.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading One of the combatants had received two such wounds as would have been sufficient to terminate an ordinary meeting, and the other was lying at death's door stabbed through the throat.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading One of the combatants had received two such wounds as would have been sufficient to terminate an ordinary meeting, and the other was lying at death's door stabbed through the throat.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There were many duels fought; but, as a general rule, they were not very serious, and the first slight wound decided the matter in hand to the satisfaction of both parties.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading One of the combatants had received two such wounds as would have been sufficient to terminate an ordinary meeting, and the other was lying at death's door stabbed through the throat.
precisely as stated
From this reading Such affairs as the encounter between Giovanni and Del Ferice were very rare in Rome.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One of the combatants had received two such wounds as would have been sufficient to terminate an ordinary meeting, and the other was lying at death's door stabbed through the throat.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Such affairs as the encounter between Giovanni and Del Ferice were very rare in Rome.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Society was frantic with excitement.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading One of the combatants had received two such wounds as would have been sufficient to terminate an ordinary meeting, and the other was lying at death's door stabbed through the throat.
an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading There were many duels fought; but, as a general rule, they were not very serious, and the first slight wound decided the matter in hand to the satisfaction of both parties.
woundsnounUS /wuːndz/
plural of “wound” — an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading One of the combatants had received two such wounds as would have been sufficient to terminate an ordinary meeting, and the other was lying at death's door stabbed through the throat.
