used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
anew
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
basinnounUS /ˈbeɪsən/
a bowl-shaped vessel; usually used for holding food or liquids
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
betwixtprepositionUS /biˈtwɪkst/
an old word for “between”
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
lacking funds
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
broodverbUS /bruːd/
think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
rid of obstructions
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
crestnounUS /krest/
the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
defencenounUS /dɪˈfens/
(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
an opposing military force
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
divisible by two
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading He was too far off for me to see if he were a soldier or only a peasant.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
floatingadjectiveUS /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/
borne up by or suspended in a liquid
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was too far off for me to see if he were a soldier or only a peasant.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
gapnounUS /ɡæp/
a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He was too far off for me to see if he were a soldier or only a peasant.
an iconic mental representation
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
inlandadjectiveUS /ˈɪnlænd/
situated away from an area's coast or border
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
invadingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈveɪdɪŋ/
involving invasion or aggressive attack
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
landscapenounUS /ˈlændskeɪp/
an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
markingnounUS /ˈmɑːrkɪŋ/
a distinguishing symbol
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was too far off for me to see if he were a soldier or only a peasant.
not caught with the senses or the mind
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
moistadjectiveUS /mɔɪst/
slightly wet
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
not in physical motion
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
not any; not one
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He was too far off for me to see if he were a soldier or only a peasant.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
and nothing more
From this reading He was too far off for me to see if he were a soldier or only a peasant.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He was too far off for me to see if he were a soldier or only a peasant.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
outletnounUS /ˈaʊtlet/
a place of business for retailing goods
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
peasantnounUS /ˈpezənt/
a country person
From this reading He was too far off for me to see if he were a soldier or only a peasant.
detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
To recall to mind.
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
except for; apart from
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
seawardadjectiveUS /ˈsiːwərd/
(of winds) coming from the land
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He was too far off for me to see if he were a soldier or only a peasant.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
sentinelnounUS /ˈsentənəl/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading He was too far off for me to see if he were a soldier or only a peasant.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
SpaniardnounUS /ˈspænjərd/
a native or inhabitant of Spain
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
spurringnounUS /ˈspɜːrɪŋ/
a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
be standing; be upright
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
staturenounUS /ˈstætʃər/
high level of respect gained by impressive development or achievement
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
sweepingadjectiveUS /ˈswiːpɪŋ/
taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Then, as the sun broke out from behind the sweeping clouds, it flashed on a sword in his hand, and I concluded this must be an English soldier placed there to keep the road inland against the invading Spaniard.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was too far off for me to see if he were a soldier or only a peasant.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He was too far off for me to see if he were a soldier or only a peasant.
in the direction of
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
Twas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
verilyadverb
in truth; certainly
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
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 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was too far off for me to see if he were a soldier or only a peasant.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He was too far off for me to see if he were a soldier or only a peasant.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
in or at the place that
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading 'Twas a fine post of defence, verily; for, looking round, I perceived that the hills on every hand seemed to close in and stand like the walls of a basin, with no outlet save the crest on which I stood on the one hand, and a gap where he stood on the other; while betwixt us stretched the moist plain, across which the Captain was even now spurring.
which person or people
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Looking again towards the gap, I perceived--what my enemy below must have missed--the form of a man who stood there, motionless, clear cut against the sky, with his back on us as he gazed seaward.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet I remember marking that he was great of stature; and as he stood there, with his hair floating in the wind, he seemed some image of a giant god set there to stand sentinel and brood over the wild landscape.
