used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But such a condition was too preposterous, too unnatural, to exist, nor would it exist much longer.
Alali
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Alali women, fifty strong, sallied forth into the forest to chastise their recalcitrant males.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading They carried their heavy bludgeons and many feathered pebbles, but most formidable of all was their terrific rage.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They carried their heavy bludgeons and many feathered pebbles, but most formidable of all was their terrific rage.
move towards
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
aughtnounUS /ɔːt/
a quantity of no importance
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
bludgeons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They carried their heavy bludgeons and many feathered pebbles, but most formidable of all was their terrific rage.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They carried their heavy bludgeons and many feathered pebbles, but most formidable of all was their terrific rage.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading They carried their heavy bludgeons and many feathered pebbles, but most formidable of all was their terrific rage.
chastiseverbUS /tʃæˈstaɪz/
censure severely
From this reading The Alali women, fifty strong, sallied forth into the forest to chastise their recalcitrant males.
a state at a particular time
From this reading But such a condition was too preposterous, too unnatural, to exist, nor would it exist much longer.
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
defyverbUS /dɪˈfaɪ/
resist or confront with resistance
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
existverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪst/
have an existence, be extant
From this reading But such a condition was too preposterous, too unnatural, to exist, nor would it exist much longer.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
featheredadjectiveUS /ˈfeðərd/
adorned with feathers or plumes
From this reading They carried their heavy bludgeons and many feathered pebbles, but most formidable of all was their terrific rage.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading The Alali women, fifty strong, sallied forth into the forest to chastise their recalcitrant males.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading The Alali women, fifty strong, sallied forth into the forest to chastise their recalcitrant males.
formidableadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmədəbəl/
extremely impressive in strength or excellence
From this reading They carried their heavy bludgeons and many feathered pebbles, but most formidable of all was their terrific rage.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The Alali women, fifty strong, sallied forth into the forest to chastise their recalcitrant males.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had they had speech they would have said that and a number of other things.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading They carried their heavy bludgeons and many feathered pebbles, but most formidable of all was their terrific rage.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The Alali women, fifty strong, sallied forth into the forest to chastise their recalcitrant males.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But such a condition was too preposterous, too unnatural, to exist, nor would it exist much longer.
for more time
From this reading But such a condition was too preposterous, too unnatural, to exist, nor would it exist much longer.
malesnounUS /meɪlz/
plural of “male” — an animal that produces gametes (spermatozoa) that can fertilize female gametes
From this reading The Alali women, fifty strong, sallied forth into the forest to chastise their recalcitrant males.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading They carried their heavy bludgeons and many feathered pebbles, but most formidable of all was their terrific rage.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
used to form the superlative
From this reading They carried their heavy bludgeons and many feathered pebbles, but most formidable of all was their terrific rage.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading But such a condition was too preposterous, too unnatural, to exist, nor would it exist much longer.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading But such a condition was too preposterous, too unnatural, to exist, nor would it exist much longer.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading Had they had speech they would have said that and a number of other things.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They carried their heavy bludgeons and many feathered pebbles, but most formidable of all was their terrific rage.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Had they had speech they would have said that and a number of other things.
pebblesnounUS /ˈpebəlz/
plural of “pebble” — a small smooth rounded rock
From this reading They carried their heavy bludgeons and many feathered pebbles, but most formidable of all was their terrific rage.
preposterousadjectiveUS /prɪˈpɑːstərəs/
so unreasonable as to invite derision
From this reading But such a condition was too preposterous, too unnatural, to exist, nor would it exist much longer.
presumedverbUS /prəˈzuːmd/
past form of “presume” — take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading They carried their heavy bludgeons and many feathered pebbles, but most formidable of all was their terrific rage.
recalcitrantadjectiveUS /rɪˈkælsɪtrənt/
stubbornly resistant to authority or control
From this reading The Alali women, fifty strong, sallied forth into the forest to chastise their recalcitrant males.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Had they had speech they would have said that and a number of other things.
sallied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Alali women, fifty strong, sallied forth into the forest to chastise their recalcitrant males.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
slayverbUS /sleɪ/
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
slinking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading Had they had speech they would have said that and a number of other things.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading The Alali women, fifty strong, sallied forth into the forest to chastise their recalcitrant males.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But such a condition was too preposterous, too unnatural, to exist, nor would it exist much longer.
terrificadjectiveUS /tərˈɪfɪk/
very great or intense
From this reading They carried their heavy bludgeons and many feathered pebbles, but most formidable of all was their terrific rage.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Had they had speech they would have said that and a number of other things.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Alali women, fifty strong, sallied forth into the forest to chastise their recalcitrant males.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Alali women, fifty strong, sallied forth into the forest to chastise their recalcitrant males.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Never in the memory of one of them had man dared question their authority, never had he presumed to show aught but fear of them; but now, instead of slinking away at their approach, he had dared defy them, to attack them, to slay them!
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They carried their heavy bludgeons and many feathered pebbles, but most formidable of all was their terrific rage.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Had they had speech they would have said that and a number of other things.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Alali women, fifty strong, sallied forth into the forest to chastise their recalcitrant males.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading But such a condition was too preposterous, too unnatural, to exist, nor would it exist much longer.
unnaturaladjectiveUS /ənˈnætʃərəl/
not in accordance with or determined by nature; contrary to nature
From this reading But such a condition was too preposterous, too unnatural, to exist, nor would it exist much longer.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They carried their heavy bludgeons and many feathered pebbles, but most formidable of all was their terrific rage.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The Alali women, fifty strong, sallied forth into the forest to chastise their recalcitrant males.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But such a condition was too preposterous, too unnatural, to exist, nor would it exist much longer.
