used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
(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 When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Suddenly his upstretched hand dropped to his side, and the wild exultation faded from his fiery eyes.
ArchbishopnounUS /ˈɑːrtʃˈbɪʃəp/
a bishop of highest rank
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading All his men there assembled stood motionless as he had left them.
assembledverbUS /əˈsembəld/
past form of “assemble” — create by putting components or members together
From this reading All his men there assembled stood motionless as he had left them.
biddingnounUS /ˈbɪdɪŋ/
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading He turned, and curtly bidding the others to follow, clanked down the circular stone stair, and presently entered the courtyard he had so recently quitted.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
make calm or still
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
circularadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrkjələr/
having the shape or form of a circle
From this reading He turned, and curtly bidding the others to follow, clanked down the circular stone stair, and presently entered the courtyard he had so recently quitted.
clanked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned, and curtly bidding the others to follow, clanked down the circular stone stair, and presently entered the courtyard he had so recently quitted.
clenchedadjectiveUS /klentʃt/
closed or squeezed together tightly
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
determine the number or amount of
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrt.jɑːrd/
An unroofed area that is completely or partially enclosed by the walls of a house.
From this reading He turned, and curtly bidding the others to follow, clanked down the circular stone stair, and presently entered the courtyard he had so recently quitted.
curtlyadverbUS /ˈkɜːrtli/
in a curt, abrupt and discourteous manner
From this reading He turned, and curtly bidding the others to follow, clanked down the circular stone stair, and presently entered the courtyard he had so recently quitted.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
defiancenounUS /dɪˈfaɪəns/
intentionally contemptuous behavior or attitude
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He turned, and curtly bidding the others to follow, clanked down the circular stone stair, and presently entered the courtyard he had so recently quitted.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Suddenly his upstretched hand dropped to his side, and the wild exultation faded from his fiery eyes.
the male ruler of an empire
From this reading THE NIGHT ESCAPE OF THE EMPEROR.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading He turned, and curtly bidding the others to follow, clanked down the circular stone stair, and presently entered the courtyard he had so recently quitted.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading THE NIGHT ESCAPE OF THE EMPEROR.
exultationnoun
a feeling of extreme joy
From this reading Suddenly his upstretched hand dropped to his side, and the wild exultation faded from his fiery eyes.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Suddenly his upstretched hand dropped to his side, and the wild exultation faded from his fiery eyes.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading Suddenly his upstretched hand dropped to his side, and the wild exultation faded from his fiery eyes.
fieryadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪəri/
characterized by intense emotion
From this reading Suddenly his upstretched hand dropped to his side, and the wild exultation faded from his fiery eyes.
fistnounUS /fɪst/
a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading He turned, and curtly bidding the others to follow, clanked down the circular stone stair, and presently entered the courtyard he had so recently quitted.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Suddenly his upstretched hand dropped to his side, and the wild exultation faded from his fiery eyes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Suddenly his upstretched hand dropped to his side, and the wild exultation faded from his fiery eyes.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading All his men there assembled stood motionless as he had left them.
the force of workers available
From this reading All his men there assembled stood motionless as he had left them.
the light of the Moon
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
not in physical motion
From this reading All his men there assembled stood motionless as he had left them.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE NIGHT ESCAPE OF THE EMPEROR.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE NIGHT ESCAPE OF THE EMPEROR.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned, and curtly bidding the others to follow, clanked down the circular stone stair, and presently entered the courtyard he had so recently quitted.
in the near future
From this reading He turned, and curtly bidding the others to follow, clanked down the circular stone stair, and presently entered the courtyard he had so recently quitted.
quitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned, and curtly bidding the others to follow, clanked down the circular stone stair, and presently entered the courtyard he had so recently quitted.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
recentlyadverbUS /ˈriːsəntli/
in the recent past
From this reading He turned, and curtly bidding the others to follow, clanked down the circular stone stair, and presently entered the courtyard he had so recently quitted.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
in a vehement outcry
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Suddenly his upstretched hand dropped to his side, and the wild exultation faded from his fiery eyes.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He turned, and curtly bidding the others to follow, clanked down the circular stone stair, and presently entered the courtyard he had so recently quitted.
stairnounUS /ster/
support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
From this reading He turned, and curtly bidding the others to follow, clanked down the circular stone stair, and presently entered the courtyard he had so recently quitted.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading He turned, and curtly bidding the others to follow, clanked down the circular stone stair, and presently entered the courtyard he had so recently quitted.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly his upstretched hand dropped to his side, and the wild exultation faded from his fiery eyes.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE NIGHT ESCAPE OF THE EMPEROR.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading All his men there assembled stood motionless as he had left them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
thrallnounUS /θrɔːl/
the state of being under the control of another person
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading He turned, and curtly bidding the others to follow, clanked down the circular stone stair, and presently entered the courtyard he had so recently quitted.
upstretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly his upstretched hand dropped to his side, and the wild exultation faded from his fiery eyes.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
at the time that
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
which person or people
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading Suddenly his upstretched hand dropped to his side, and the wild exultation faded from his fiery eyes.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When the Black Count had shouted his defiance to the tent of the Archbishop, he stood there in the calm moonlight with his clenched fist raised high above his head, while a deep silence held in thrall all who were on the roof of the northern tower.
