used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
in addition
From this reading Following the spies came a mass of mounted spearsmen, armed also with swords and shields, a vanguard for the King who reposed in his royal litter borne by slaves.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Then came another horde of close-ranked horsemen, nodding on the backs of their toiling steeds, or cursing at the steeps of their tedious ascent.
(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
From this reading Following the spies came a mass of mounted spearsmen, armed also with swords and shields, a vanguard for the King who reposed in his royal litter borne by slaves.
armor-plate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
ascentnounUS /əˈsent/
an upward slope or grade (as in a road)
From this reading Then came another horde of close-ranked horsemen, nodding on the backs of their toiling steeds, or cursing at the steeps of their tedious ascent.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Then came another horde of close-ranked horsemen, nodding on the backs of their toiling steeds, or cursing at the steeps of their tedious ascent.
backsnounUS /bæks/
plural of “back” — the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
From this reading Then came another horde of close-ranked horsemen, nodding on the backs of their toiling steeds, or cursing at the steeps of their tedious ascent.
for the reason that
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Behind rolled a host of heavy chariots, their horses well-nigh spent by the labor of their climb and the need of water for their thirsty throats.
inflected form of “bear” — have
From this reading Following the spies came a mass of mounted spearsmen, armed also with swords and shields, a vanguard for the King who reposed in his royal litter borne by slaves.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Following the spies came a mass of mounted spearsmen, armed also with swords and shields, a vanguard for the King who reposed in his royal litter borne by slaves.
chariotsnounUS /ˈtʃeriəts/
plural of “chariot” — a light four-wheel horse-drawn ceremonial carriage
From this reading Behind rolled a host of heavy chariots, their horses well-nigh spent by the labor of their climb and the need of water for their thirsty throats.
rid of obstructions
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading Behind rolled a host of heavy chariots, their horses well-nigh spent by the labor of their climb and the need of water for their thirsty throats.
close-ranked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then came another horde of close-ranked horsemen, nodding on the backs of their toiling steeds, or cursing at the steeps of their tedious ascent.
coatsnounUS /koʊts/
plural of “coat” — an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
crawledverbUS /krɔːld/
past form of “crawl” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
crevicesnounUS /ˈkrevəsɪz/
plural of “crevice” — a long narrow depression in a surface
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
cursingverbUS /ˈkɜːrsɪŋ/
-ing form of “curse” — utter obscenities or profanities
From this reading Then came another horde of close-ranked horsemen, nodding on the backs of their toiling steeds, or cursing at the steeps of their tedious ascent.
deflectingverbUS /dɪˈflektɪŋ/
-ing form of “deflect” — prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
denseadjectiveUS /dens/
permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading Following the spies came a mass of mounted spearsmen, armed also with swords and shields, a vanguard for the King who reposed in his royal litter borne by slaves.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Behind rolled a host of heavy chariots, their horses well-nigh spent by the labor of their climb and the need of water for their thirsty throats.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Following the spies came a mass of mounted spearsmen, armed also with swords and shields, a vanguard for the King who reposed in his royal litter borne by slaves.
hordenounUS /hɔːrd/
a vast multitude
From this reading Then came another horde of close-ranked horsemen, nodding on the backs of their toiling steeds, or cursing at the steeps of their tedious ascent.
horsemennounUS /ˈhɔːrsmən/
plural of “horseman” — a man skilled in equitation
From this reading Then came another horde of close-ranked horsemen, nodding on the backs of their toiling steeds, or cursing at the steeps of their tedious ascent.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Behind rolled a host of heavy chariots, their horses well-nigh spent by the labor of their climb and the need of water for their thirsty throats.
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading Behind rolled a host of heavy chariots, their horses well-nigh spent by the labor of their climb and the need of water for their thirsty throats.
icyadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsi/
devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading Following the spies came a mass of mounted spearsmen, armed also with swords and shields, a vanguard for the King who reposed in his royal litter borne by slaves.
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading Behind rolled a host of heavy chariots, their horses well-nigh spent by the labor of their climb and the need of water for their thirsty throats.
take somebody somewhere
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
leathern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
litternounUS /ˈlɪtər/
the offspring at one birth of a multiparous mammal
From this reading Following the spies came a mass of mounted spearsmen, armed also with swords and shields, a vanguard for the King who reposed in his royal litter borne by slaves.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading Following the spies came a mass of mounted spearsmen, armed also with swords and shields, a vanguard for the King who reposed in his royal litter borne by slaves.
having or showing great strength or force or intensity
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
monsternounUS /ˈmɑːnstər/
an imaginary creature usually having various human and animal parts
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support
From this reading Following the spies came a mass of mounted spearsmen, armed also with swords and shields, a vanguard for the King who reposed in his royal litter borne by slaves.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading Behind rolled a host of heavy chariots, their horses well-nigh spent by the labor of their climb and the need of water for their thirsty throats.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
Ninus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
noddingadjectiveUS /ˈnɑːdɪŋ/
having branches or flower heads that bend downward
From this reading Then came another horde of close-ranked horsemen, nodding on the backs of their toiling steeds, or cursing at the steeps of their tedious ascent.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then came another horde of close-ranked horsemen, nodding on the backs of their toiling steeds, or cursing at the steeps of their tedious ascent.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Then came another horde of close-ranked horsemen, nodding on the backs of their toiling steeds, or cursing at the steeps of their tedious ascent.
go across or through
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
to give an account or representation of in words
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
reposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Following the spies came a mass of mounted spearsmen, armed also with swords and shields, a vanguard for the King who reposed in his royal litter borne by slaves.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
rock-walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading Behind rolled a host of heavy chariots, their horses well-nigh spent by the labor of their climb and the need of water for their thirsty throats.
royaladjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading Following the spies came a mass of mounted spearsmen, armed also with swords and shields, a vanguard for the King who reposed in his royal litter borne by slaves.
seamsnounUS /siːmz/
plural of “seam” — joint consisting of a line formed by joining two pieces
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
searchedverbUS /sɜːrtʃt/
past form of “search” — try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
shieldsnounUS /ʃiːldz/
plural of “shield” — a protective covering or structure
From this reading Following the spies came a mass of mounted spearsmen, armed also with swords and shields, a vanguard for the King who reposed in his royal litter borne by slaves.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
signalsnounUS /ˈsɪɡnəlz/
plural of “signal” — any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
plural of “slave” — a person who is owned by someone
From this reading Following the spies came a mass of mounted spearsmen, armed also with swords and shields, a vanguard for the King who reposed in his royal litter borne by slaves.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
spearsmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Following the spies came a mass of mounted spearsmen, armed also with swords and shields, a vanguard for the King who reposed in his royal litter borne by slaves.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading Behind rolled a host of heavy chariots, their horses well-nigh spent by the labor of their climb and the need of water for their thirsty throats.
spiesnounUS /spaɪz/
plural of “spy” — (military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
steedsnounUS /stiːdz/
plural of “steed” — (literary) a spirited horse for state of war
From this reading Then came another horde of close-ranked horsemen, nodding on the backs of their toiling steeds, or cursing at the steeps of their tedious ascent.
steeps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then came another horde of close-ranked horsemen, nodding on the backs of their toiling steeds, or cursing at the steeps of their tedious ascent.
not in physical motion
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
swordsnounUS /sɔːrdz/
plural of “sword” — a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
From this reading Following the spies came a mass of mounted spearsmen, armed also with swords and shields, a vanguard for the King who reposed in his royal litter borne by slaves.
tediousadjectiveUS /ˈtiːdiəs/
so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
From this reading Then came another horde of close-ranked horsemen, nodding on the backs of their toiling steeds, or cursing at the steeps of their tedious ascent.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Then came another horde of close-ranked horsemen, nodding on the backs of their toiling steeds, or cursing at the steeps of their tedious ascent.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then came another horde of close-ranked horsemen, nodding on the backs of their toiling steeds, or cursing at the steeps of their tedious ascent.
thirstyadjectiveUS /ˈθɜːrsti/
needing moisture
From this reading Behind rolled a host of heavy chariots, their horses well-nigh spent by the labor of their climb and the need of water for their thirsty throats.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
throatsnounUS /θroʊts/
plural of “throat” — the passage to the stomach and lungs; in the front part of the neck below the chin and above the collarbone
From this reading Behind rolled a host of heavy chariots, their horses well-nigh spent by the labor of their climb and the need of water for their thirsty throats.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
toilingadjectiveUS /ˈtɔɪlɪŋ/
doing arduous or unpleasant work
From this reading Then came another horde of close-ranked horsemen, nodding on the backs of their toiling steeds, or cursing at the steeps of their tedious ascent.
toweringadjectiveUS /ˈtaʊərɪŋ/
of imposing height; especially standing out above others
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
directed up
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
vanguardnounUS /ˈvænɡɑːrd/
the leading units moving at the head of an army
From this reading Following the spies came a mass of mounted spearsmen, armed also with swords and shields, a vanguard for the King who reposed in his royal litter borne by slaves.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Behind rolled a host of heavy chariots, their horses well-nigh spent by the labor of their climb and the need of water for their thirsty throats.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
WEDGEnounUS /wedʒ/
any shape that is triangular in cross section
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
well-nighadverb
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Behind rolled a host of heavy chariots, their horses well-nigh spent by the labor of their climb and the need of water for their thirsty throats.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
which person or people
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Slowly and more slowly still this mighty monster crawled upward on its way, through gloom more dense than night because of towering rock-walls which shut it in, deflecting icy winds that searched the crevices of armor-plate or the seams of leathern coats.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading THE PASS OF THE WEDGE With the army of Ninus the night had passed without alarm, for in the lead crept a force of spies who watched the way and made report by signals that the road was clear of enemies.
