used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was fighting to be had outside; Earth slaves to be tortured and slain, and he was out of it--wet nurse to a couple of prisoners.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading There was trouble below--fighting already, very likely.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Through an open slide window giving out on the terrace, a confused roaring, a babel of sounds came filtering through.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was fighting to be had outside; Earth slaves to be tortured and slain, and he was out of it--wet nurse to a couple of prisoners.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading _Rescued_ The guard looked at his captives sourly, kicked viciously at Hilary to relieve his feelings.
babelnounUS /ˈbæbəl/
(Genesis 11:1-11) a tower built by Noah's descendants (probably in Babylon) who intended it to reach up to heaven; God foiled them by confusing their language so they could no longer understand one another
From this reading Through an open slide window giving out on the terrace, a confused roaring, a babel of sounds came filtering through.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There was fighting to be had outside; Earth slaves to be tortured and slain, and he was out of it--wet nurse to a couple of prisoners.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading There was trouble below--fighting already, very likely.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Through an open slide window giving out on the terrace, a confused roaring, a babel of sounds came filtering through.
captivesnounUS /ˈkæptɪvz/
plural of “captive” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading _Rescued_ The guard looked at his captives sourly, kicked viciously at Hilary to relieve his feelings.
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading Through an open slide window giving out on the terrace, a confused roaring, a babel of sounds came filtering through.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading There was fighting to be had outside; Earth slaves to be tortured and slain, and he was out of it--wet nurse to a couple of prisoners.
disconsolatelyadverb
in grief-stricken loneliness; without comforting circumstances or prospects
From this reading He growled disconsolately.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading There was fighting to be had outside; Earth slaves to be tortured and slain, and he was out of it--wet nurse to a couple of prisoners.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading _Rescued_ The guard looked at his captives sourly, kicked viciously at Hilary to relieve his feelings.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading There was fighting to be had outside; Earth slaves to be tortured and slain, and he was out of it--wet nurse to a couple of prisoners.
filteringverbUS /ˈfɪltərɪŋ/
-ing form of “filter” — remove by passing through a filter
From this reading Through an open slide window giving out on the terrace, a confused roaring, a babel of sounds came filtering through.
the act of giving
From this reading Through an open slide window giving out on the terrace, a confused roaring, a babel of sounds came filtering through.
growledverbUS /ɡraʊld/
past form of “growl” — to utter or emit low dull rumbling sounds
From this reading He growled disconsolately.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading _Rescued_ The guard looked at his captives sourly, kicked viciously at Hilary to relieve his feelings.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was fighting to be had outside; Earth slaves to be tortured and slain, and he was out of it--wet nurse to a couple of prisoners.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was fighting to be had outside; Earth slaves to be tortured and slain, and he was out of it--wet nurse to a couple of prisoners.
Hilary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Rescued_ The guard looked at his captives sourly, kicked viciously at Hilary to relieve his feelings.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading _Rescued_ The guard looked at his captives sourly, kicked viciously at Hilary to relieve his feelings.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was fighting to be had outside; Earth slaves to be tortured and slain, and he was out of it--wet nurse to a couple of prisoners.
kickedverbUS /kɪkt/
past form of “kick” — drive or propel with the foot
From this reading _Rescued_ The guard looked at his captives sourly, kicked viciously at Hilary to relieve his feelings.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading There was trouble below--fighting already, very likely.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading _Rescued_ The guard looked at his captives sourly, kicked viciously at Hilary to relieve his feelings.
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading There was fighting to be had outside; Earth slaves to be tortured and slain, and he was out of it--wet nurse to a couple of prisoners.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was fighting to be had outside; Earth slaves to be tortured and slain, and he was out of it--wet nurse to a couple of prisoners.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Through an open slide window giving out on the terrace, a confused roaring, a babel of sounds came filtering through.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Through an open slide window giving out on the terrace, a confused roaring, a babel of sounds came filtering through.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading There was fighting to be had outside; Earth slaves to be tortured and slain, and he was out of it--wet nurse to a couple of prisoners.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading There was fighting to be had outside; Earth slaves to be tortured and slain, and he was out of it--wet nurse to a couple of prisoners.
plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading There was fighting to be had outside; Earth slaves to be tortured and slain, and he was out of it--wet nurse to a couple of prisoners.
relieveverbUS /rɪˈliːv/
provide physical relief, as from pain
From this reading _Rescued_ The guard looked at his captives sourly, kicked viciously at Hilary to relieve his feelings.
RescuedadjectiveUS /ˈreskjuːd/
delivered from danger
From this reading _Rescued_ The guard looked at his captives sourly, kicked viciously at Hilary to relieve his feelings.
roaringnounUS /ˈrɔːrɪŋ/
a deep prolonged loud noise
From this reading Through an open slide window giving out on the terrace, a confused roaring, a babel of sounds came filtering through.
slainnounUS /sleɪn/
people who have been slain (as in battle)
From this reading There was fighting to be had outside; Earth slaves to be tortured and slain, and he was out of it--wet nurse to a couple of prisoners.
plural of “slave” — a person who is owned by someone
From this reading There was fighting to be had outside; Earth slaves to be tortured and slain, and he was out of it--wet nurse to a couple of prisoners.
slidenounUS /slaɪd/
a small flat rectangular piece of glass on which specimens can be mounted for microscopic study
From this reading Through an open slide window giving out on the terrace, a confused roaring, a babel of sounds came filtering through.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Through an open slide window giving out on the terrace, a confused roaring, a babel of sounds came filtering through.
sourlyadverb
in a sour manner
From this reading _Rescued_ The guard looked at his captives sourly, kicked viciously at Hilary to relieve his feelings.
terracenounUS /ˈterəs/
usually paved outdoor area adjoining a residence
From this reading Through an open slide window giving out on the terrace, a confused roaring, a babel of sounds came filtering through.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Rescued_ The guard looked at his captives sourly, kicked viciously at Hilary to relieve his feelings.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was fighting to be had outside; Earth slaves to be tortured and slain, and he was out of it--wet nurse to a couple of prisoners.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through an open slide window giving out on the terrace, a confused roaring, a babel of sounds came filtering through.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _Rescued_ The guard looked at his captives sourly, kicked viciously at Hilary to relieve his feelings.
torturedadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrtʃərd/
experiencing intense pain especially mental pain
From this reading There was fighting to be had outside; Earth slaves to be tortured and slain, and he was out of it--wet nurse to a couple of prisoners.
a source of difficulty
From this reading There was trouble below--fighting already, very likely.
precisely as stated
From this reading There was trouble below--fighting already, very likely.
viciouslyadverbUS /ˈvɪʃəsli/
in a vicious manner
From this reading _Rescued_ The guard looked at his captives sourly, kicked viciously at Hilary to relieve his feelings.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was fighting to be had outside; Earth slaves to be tortured and slain, and he was out of it--wet nurse to a couple of prisoners.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading There was fighting to be had outside; Earth slaves to be tortured and slain, and he was out of it--wet nurse to a couple of prisoners.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Through an open slide window giving out on the terrace, a confused roaring, a babel of sounds came filtering through.
