used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His rest was disturbed by the singing of a nightingale perched in a great tree from the branches of which hung his tent.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An earthenware lamp illuminated the mass of objects strewn carelessly around his bed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ASBYTE AND HANNIBAL Hannibal lay tossing between the bright-hued coverings of his couch, unable to conciliate sleep.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading The cocks had announced midnight, breaking the silence of the camp with their shrill voices, and the chieftain was yet awake, closing his eyes though unable to sleep.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading An earthenware lamp illuminated the mass of objects strewn carelessly around his bed.
ASBYTE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ASBYTE AND HANNIBAL Hannibal lay tossing between the bright-hued coverings of his couch, unable to conciliate sleep.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading The cocks had announced midnight, breaking the silence of the camp with their shrill voices, and the chieftain was yet awake, closing his eyes though unable to sleep.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading An earthenware lamp illuminated the mass of objects strewn carelessly around his bed.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading ASBYTE AND HANNIBAL Hannibal lay tossing between the bright-hued coverings of his couch, unable to conciliate sleep.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading His rest was disturbed by the singing of a nightingale perched in a great tree from the branches of which hung his tent.
the act of breaking something
From this reading The cocks had announced midnight, breaking the silence of the camp with their shrill voices, and the chieftain was yet awake, closing his eyes though unable to sleep.
bright-hued
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ASBYTE AND HANNIBAL Hannibal lay tossing between the bright-hued coverings of his couch, unable to conciliate sleep.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His rest was disturbed by the singing of a nightingale perched in a great tree from the branches of which hung his tent.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading The cocks had announced midnight, breaking the silence of the camp with their shrill voices, and the chieftain was yet awake, closing his eyes though unable to sleep.
carelesslyadverbUS /ˈkerləsli/
without care or concern
From this reading An earthenware lamp illuminated the mass of objects strewn carelessly around his bed.
chieftainnounUS /ˈtʃiːftən/
the leader of a group of people
From this reading The cocks had announced midnight, breaking the silence of the camp with their shrill voices, and the chieftain was yet awake, closing his eyes though unable to sleep.
closingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading The cocks had announced midnight, breaking the silence of the camp with their shrill voices, and the chieftain was yet awake, closing his eyes though unable to sleep.
cocksnounUS /kɑːks/
plural of “cock” — obscene terms for penis
From this reading The cocks had announced midnight, breaking the silence of the camp with their shrill voices, and the chieftain was yet awake, closing his eyes though unable to sleep.
conciliateverb
cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
From this reading ASBYTE AND HANNIBAL Hannibal lay tossing between the bright-hued coverings of his couch, unable to conciliate sleep.
couchnounUS /kaʊtʃ/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading ASBYTE AND HANNIBAL Hannibal lay tossing between the bright-hued coverings of his couch, unable to conciliate sleep.
coveringsnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋz/
plural of “covering” — a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading ASBYTE AND HANNIBAL Hannibal lay tossing between the bright-hued coverings of his couch, unable to conciliate sleep.
cuirasses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the floor glistened cuirasses, greaves, and helmets, over which were thrown rich fabrics stolen from the Saguntine villas.
having the place or position changed
From this reading His rest was disturbed by the singing of a nightingale perched in a great tree from the branches of which hung his tent.
earthenwarenounUS /ˈɜːrθənwer/
ceramic ware made of porous clay fired at low heat
From this reading An earthenware lamp illuminated the mass of objects strewn carelessly around his bed.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The cocks had announced midnight, breaking the silence of the camp with their shrill voices, and the chieftain was yet awake, closing his eyes though unable to sleep.
fabricsnounUS /ˈfæbrɪks/
plural of “fabric” — artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading On the floor glistened cuirasses, greaves, and helmets, over which were thrown rich fabrics stolen from the Saguntine villas.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading On the floor glistened cuirasses, greaves, and helmets, over which were thrown rich fabrics stolen from the Saguntine villas.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading His rest was disturbed by the singing of a nightingale perched in a great tree from the branches of which hung his tent.
glistenedverbUS /ˈɡlɪsənd/
past form of “glisten” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading On the floor glistened cuirasses, greaves, and helmets, over which were thrown rich fabrics stolen from the Saguntine villas.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading His rest was disturbed by the singing of a nightingale perched in a great tree from the branches of which hung his tent.
greavesnounUS /ɡriːvz/
the residue that remains after animal fat has been rendered
From this reading On the floor glistened cuirasses, greaves, and helmets, over which were thrown rich fabrics stolen from the Saguntine villas.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The cocks had announced midnight, breaking the silence of the camp with their shrill voices, and the chieftain was yet awake, closing his eyes though unable to sleep.
HANNIBALnounUS /ˈhænɪbəl/
general who commanded the Carthaginian army in the second Punic War; crossed the Alps and defeated the Romans but was recalled to defend Carthage and was defeated (247-182 BC)
From this reading ASBYTE AND HANNIBAL Hannibal lay tossing between the bright-hued coverings of his couch, unable to conciliate sleep.
helmetsnounUS /ˈhelməts/
plural of “helmet” — armor plate that protects the head
From this reading On the floor glistened cuirasses, greaves, and helmets, over which were thrown rich fabrics stolen from the Saguntine villas.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading ASBYTE AND HANNIBAL Hannibal lay tossing between the bright-hued coverings of his couch, unable to conciliate sleep.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading His rest was disturbed by the singing of a nightingale perched in a great tree from the branches of which hung his tent.
illuminatedadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈluːməneɪtəd/
provided with artificial light
From this reading An earthenware lamp illuminated the mass of objects strewn carelessly around his bed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His rest was disturbed by the singing of a nightingale perched in a great tree from the branches of which hung his tent.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading An earthenware lamp illuminated the mass of objects strewn carelessly around his bed.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading ASBYTE AND HANNIBAL Hannibal lay tossing between the bright-hued coverings of his couch, unable to conciliate sleep.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading An earthenware lamp illuminated the mass of objects strewn carelessly around his bed.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading The cocks had announced midnight, breaking the silence of the camp with their shrill voices, and the chieftain was yet awake, closing his eyes though unable to sleep.
nightingalenounUS /ˈnaɪtɪŋɡeɪl/
European songbird noted for its melodious nocturnal song
From this reading His rest was disturbed by the singing of a nightingale perched in a great tree from the branches of which hung his tent.
plural of “object” — a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading An earthenware lamp illuminated the mass of objects strewn carelessly around his bed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ASBYTE AND HANNIBAL Hannibal lay tossing between the bright-hued coverings of his couch, unable to conciliate sleep.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the floor glistened cuirasses, greaves, and helmets, over which were thrown rich fabrics stolen from the Saguntine villas.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading On the floor glistened cuirasses, greaves, and helmets, over which were thrown rich fabrics stolen from the Saguntine villas.
perchedverbUS /pɜːrtʃt/
past form of “perch” — sit, as on a branch
From this reading His rest was disturbed by the singing of a nightingale perched in a great tree from the branches of which hung his tent.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading His rest was disturbed by the singing of a nightingale perched in a great tree from the branches of which hung his tent.
possessing material wealth
From this reading On the floor glistened cuirasses, greaves, and helmets, over which were thrown rich fabrics stolen from the Saguntine villas.
Saguntine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the floor glistened cuirasses, greaves, and helmets, over which were thrown rich fabrics stolen from the Saguntine villas.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading The cocks had announced midnight, breaking the silence of the camp with their shrill voices, and the chieftain was yet awake, closing his eyes though unable to sleep.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The cocks had announced midnight, breaking the silence of the camp with their shrill voices, and the chieftain was yet awake, closing his eyes though unable to sleep.
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading His rest was disturbed by the singing of a nightingale perched in a great tree from the branches of which hung his tent.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading ASBYTE AND HANNIBAL Hannibal lay tossing between the bright-hued coverings of his couch, unable to conciliate sleep.
inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent
From this reading On the floor glistened cuirasses, greaves, and helmets, over which were thrown rich fabrics stolen from the Saguntine villas.
strewnverbUS /struːn/
inflected form of “strew” — spread by scattering ("straw" is archaic)
From this reading An earthenware lamp illuminated the mass of objects strewn carelessly around his bed.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading His rest was disturbed by the singing of a nightingale perched in a great tree from the branches of which hung his tent.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ASBYTE AND HANNIBAL Hannibal lay tossing between the bright-hued coverings of his couch, unable to conciliate sleep.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The cocks had announced midnight, breaking the silence of the camp with their shrill voices, and the chieftain was yet awake, closing his eyes though unable to sleep.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The cocks had announced midnight, breaking the silence of the camp with their shrill voices, and the chieftain was yet awake, closing his eyes though unable to sleep.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading On the floor glistened cuirasses, greaves, and helmets, over which were thrown rich fabrics stolen from the Saguntine villas.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ASBYTE AND HANNIBAL Hannibal lay tossing between the bright-hued coverings of his couch, unable to conciliate sleep.
tossingverbUS /ˈtɔːsɪŋ/
-ing form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading ASBYTE AND HANNIBAL Hannibal lay tossing between the bright-hued coverings of his couch, unable to conciliate sleep.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading His rest was disturbed by the singing of a nightingale perched in a great tree from the branches of which hung his tent.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading ASBYTE AND HANNIBAL Hannibal lay tossing between the bright-hued coverings of his couch, unable to conciliate sleep.
villasnounUS /ˈvɪləz/
plural of “villa” — Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)
From this reading On the floor glistened cuirasses, greaves, and helmets, over which were thrown rich fabrics stolen from the Saguntine villas.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The cocks had announced midnight, breaking the silence of the camp with their shrill voices, and the chieftain was yet awake, closing his eyes though unable to sleep.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The cocks had announced midnight, breaking the silence of the camp with their shrill voices, and the chieftain was yet awake, closing his eyes though unable to sleep.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On the floor glistened cuirasses, greaves, and helmets, over which were thrown rich fabrics stolen from the Saguntine villas.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading His rest was disturbed by the singing of a nightingale perched in a great tree from the branches of which hung his tent.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The cocks had announced midnight, breaking the silence of the camp with their shrill voices, and the chieftain was yet awake, closing his eyes though unable to sleep.
but in spite of that
From this reading The cocks had announced midnight, breaking the silence of the camp with their shrill voices, and the chieftain was yet awake, closing his eyes though unable to sleep.
