used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading THE RAISING OF THE SIEGE King Ninus sat his war horse, gazing sadly out across the walls of Zariaspa.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Behind him the mountains of Hindu-Kush towered, dull and purple, in the morning light, their peaks obscured in coils of snake-like mist.
Assyria's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
Bactria
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
barrenadjectiveUS /ˈbærən/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Behind him the mountains of Hindu-Kush towered, dull and purple, in the morning light, their peaks obscured in coils of snake-like mist.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
bronzedadjectiveUS /brɑːnzd/
(of skin) having a tan color from exposure to the sun
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
brotherhoodnounUS /ˈbrʌðərhʊd/
the kinship relation between a male offspring and the siblings
From this reading Southward they ran, a ragged line of hills, till they reached the height of Hindu-Koh and claimed a brotherhood with the mighty Himalayas.
brushverbUS /brʌʃ/
rub with a brush, or as if with a brush
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
claimedverbUS /kleɪmd/
past form of “claim” — assert or affirm strongly; state to be true or existing
From this reading Southward they ran, a ragged line of hills, till they reached the height of Hindu-Koh and claimed a brotherhood with the mighty Himalayas.
coilsnounUS /kɔɪlz/
plural of “coil” — a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops
From this reading Behind him the mountains of Hindu-Kush towered, dull and purple, in the morning light, their peaks obscured in coils of snake-like mist.
dauntlessadjective
invulnerable to fear or intimidation
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading Behind him the mountains of Hindu-Kush towered, dull and purple, in the morning light, their peaks obscured in coils of snake-like mist.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
fertileadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːrtəl/
capable of reproducing
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading THE RAISING OF THE SIEGE King Ninus sat his war horse, gazing sadly out across the walls of Zariaspa.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
hardenedadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdənd/
used of persons; emotionally hardened
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading Southward they ran, a ragged line of hills, till they reached the height of Hindu-Koh and claimed a brotherhood with the mighty Himalayas.
hill-steeps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Southward they ran, a ragged line of hills, till they reached the height of Hindu-Koh and claimed a brotherhood with the mighty Himalayas.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Behind him the mountains of Hindu-Kush towered, dull and purple, in the morning light, their peaks obscured in coils of snake-like mist.
HimalayasnounUS /ˌhɪməˈlaɪəs/
a mountain range extending 1500 miles on the border between India and Tibet; this range contains the world's highest mountain
From this reading Southward they ran, a ragged line of hills, till they reached the height of Hindu-Koh and claimed a brotherhood with the mighty Himalayas.
Hindu-Koh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Southward they ran, a ragged line of hills, till they reached the height of Hindu-Koh and claimed a brotherhood with the mighty Himalayas.
Hindu-Kush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him the mountains of Hindu-Kush towered, dull and purple, in the morning light, their peaks obscured in coils of snake-like mist.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE RAISING OF THE SIEGE King Ninus sat his war horse, gazing sadly out across the walls of Zariaspa.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading THE RAISING OF THE SIEGE King Ninus sat his war horse, gazing sadly out across the walls of Zariaspa.
ten 10s
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading THE RAISING OF THE SIEGE King Ninus sat his war horse, gazing sadly out across the walls of Zariaspa.
plural of “land” — the land on which real estate is located
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Behind him the mountains of Hindu-Kush towered, dull and purple, in the morning light, their peaks obscured in coils of snake-like mist.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Southward they ran, a ragged line of hills, till they reached the height of Hindu-Koh and claimed a brotherhood with the mighty Himalayas.
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 His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
having or showing great strength or force or intensity
From this reading Southward they ran, a ragged line of hills, till they reached the height of Hindu-Koh and claimed a brotherhood with the mighty Himalayas.
become covered with mist
From this reading Behind him the mountains of Hindu-Kush towered, dull and purple, in the morning light, their peaks obscured in coils of snake-like mist.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Behind him the mountains of Hindu-Kush towered, dull and purple, in the morning light, their peaks obscured in coils of snake-like mist.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading Behind him the mountains of Hindu-Kush towered, dull and purple, in the morning light, their peaks obscured in coils of snake-like mist.
musclesnounUS /ˈmʌsəlz/
plural of “muscle” — one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
Ninus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RAISING OF THE SIEGE King Ninus sat his war horse, gazing sadly out across the walls of Zariaspa.
obscuredverbUS /əbsˈkjʊrd/
past form of “obscure” — make less visible or unclear
From this reading Behind him the mountains of Hindu-Kush towered, dull and purple, in the morning light, their peaks obscured in coils of snake-like mist.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE RAISING OF THE SIEGE King Ninus sat his war horse, gazing sadly out across the walls of Zariaspa.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE RAISING OF THE SIEGE King Ninus sat his war horse, gazing sadly out across the walls of Zariaspa.
Oxus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
peaksnounUS /piːks/
plural of “peak” — the most extreme possible amount or value
From this reading Behind him the mountains of Hindu-Kush towered, dull and purple, in the morning light, their peaks obscured in coils of snake-like mist.
plainsnounUS /pleɪnz/
plural of “plain” — extensive tract of level open land
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
a purple color or pigment
From this reading Behind him the mountains of Hindu-Kush towered, dull and purple, in the morning light, their peaks obscured in coils of snake-like mist.
raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading Southward they ran, a ragged line of hills, till they reached the height of Hindu-Koh and claimed a brotherhood with the mighty Himalayas.
the event of something being raised upward
From this reading THE RAISING OF THE SIEGE King Ninus sat his war horse, gazing sadly out across the walls of Zariaspa.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Southward they ran, a ragged line of hills, till they reached the height of Hindu-Koh and claimed a brotherhood with the mighty Himalayas.
the act of physically reaching or thrusting out
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
precisely, exactly
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
riotnounUS /ˈraɪət/
a public act of violence by an unruly mob
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
in an unfortunate way
From this reading THE RAISING OF THE SIEGE King Ninus sat his war horse, gazing sadly out across the walls of Zariaspa.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading THE RAISING OF THE SIEGE King Ninus sat his war horse, gazing sadly out across the walls of Zariaspa.
shrubberynounUS /ˈʃrʌbəri/
an area where a number of shrubs are planted
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
SIEGEnounUS /siːdʒ/
the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack
From this reading THE RAISING OF THE SIEGE King Ninus sat his war horse, gazing sadly out across the walls of Zariaspa.
snake-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him the mountains of Hindu-Kush towered, dull and purple, in the morning light, their peaks obscured in coils of snake-like mist.
SouthwardadverbUS /ˈsaʊθwərd/
toward the south
From this reading Southward they ran, a ragged line of hills, till they reached the height of Hindu-Koh and claimed a brotherhood with the mighty Himalayas.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
stuntedadjectiveUS /ˈstʌntɪd/
inferior in size or quality
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RAISING OF THE SIEGE King Ninus sat his war horse, gazing sadly out across the walls of Zariaspa.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Behind him the mountains of Hindu-Kush towered, dull and purple, in the morning light, their peaks obscured in coils of snake-like mist.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Southward they ran, a ragged line of hills, till they reached the height of Hindu-Koh and claimed a brotherhood with the mighty Himalayas.
up to a particular time
From this reading Southward they ran, a ragged line of hills, till they reached the height of Hindu-Koh and claimed a brotherhood with the mighty Himalayas.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
toilverbUS /tɔɪl/
work hard
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
toweredverbUS /ˈtaʊərd/
past form of “tower” — appear very large or occupy a commanding position
From this reading Behind him the mountains of Hindu-Kush towered, dull and purple, in the morning light, their peaks obscured in coils of snake-like mist.
valleysnounUS /ˈvæliz/
plural of “valley” — a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
veinsnounUS /veɪnz/
plural of “vein” — a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading THE RAISING OF THE SIEGE King Ninus sat his war horse, gazing sadly out across the walls of Zariaspa.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading THE RAISING OF THE SIEGE King Ninus sat his war horse, gazing sadly out across the walls of Zariaspa.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading To right and left the hill-steeps lay, a barren waste of rock and stunted shrubbery, while at the feet of Assyria’s King stretched fertile valleys, and the plains of Bactria reaching away to the banks of the River Oxus.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Southward they ran, a ragged line of hills, till they reached the height of Hindu-Koh and claimed a brotherhood with the mighty Himalayas.
but in spite of that
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading His cheek was bronzed by the brush of many winds, his muscles hardened by the toil of battle in a hundred lands; the blood of dauntless youth ran riot in his veins, yet it whispered at his heart that the King had failed.
Zariaspa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RAISING OF THE SIEGE King Ninus sat his war horse, gazing sadly out across the walls of Zariaspa.
