used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At one end was a window barred, looking out upon a court; at the opposite end the door.
at or in the front
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
in addition
From this reading In the centre of the room was a table, and before the table an officer seated, also in uniform, but his head was bare and his helmet lay on the litter of papers at his elbow.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In the centre of the room was a table, and before the table an officer seated, also in uniform, but his head was bare and his helmet lay on the litter of papers at his elbow.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The office of the Polkovnik was small and narrow, low, with ceiling and walls hewn out of the rock.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had a long, ugly face with a swarthy complexion, and eyes that were sharp and cold like steel, piercing as the point of a rapier and cruel.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At one end was a window barred, looking out upon a court; at the opposite end the door.
completely unclothed
From this reading In the centre of the room was a table, and before the table an officer seated, also in uniform, but his head was bare and his helmet lay on the litter of papers at his elbow.
barredadjectiveUS /bɑːrd/
preventing entry or exit or a course of action
From this reading At one end was a window barred, looking out upon a court; at the opposite end the door.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading In the centre of the room was a table, and before the table an officer seated, also in uniform, but his head was bare and his helmet lay on the litter of papers at his elbow.
beltedadjectiveUS /ˈbeltəd/
having or provided with a belt
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
blinkingadjectiveUS /ˈblɪŋkɪŋ/
closing the eyes intermittently and rapidly
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In the centre of the room was a table, and before the table an officer seated, also in uniform, but his head was bare and his helmet lay on the litter of papers at his elbow.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading The office of the Polkovnik was small and narrow, low, with ceiling and walls hewn out of the rock.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading In the centre of the room was a table, and before the table an officer seated, also in uniform, but his head was bare and his helmet lay on the litter of papers at his elbow.
chins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading He had a long, ugly face with a swarthy complexion, and eyes that were sharp and cold like steel, piercing as the point of a rapier and cruel.
complexionnounUS /kəmˈplekʃən/
the coloring of a person's face
From this reading He had a long, ugly face with a swarthy complexion, and eyes that were sharp and cold like steel, piercing as the point of a rapier and cruel.
CossacknounUS /ˈkɔːsək/
a member of a Slavic people living in southern European Russia and Ukraine and adjacent parts of Asia and noted for their horsemanship and military skill; they formed an elite cavalry corps in czarist Russia
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading At one end was a window barred, looking out upon a court; at the opposite end the door.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading He had a long, ugly face with a swarthy complexion, and eyes that were sharp and cold like steel, piercing as the point of a rapier and cruel.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading At one end was a window barred, looking out upon a court; at the opposite end the door.
one or the other of two
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
elbownounUS /ˈelboʊ/
hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading In the centre of the room was a table, and before the table an officer seated, also in uniform, but his head was bare and his helmet lay on the litter of papers at his elbow.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading At one end was a window barred, looking out upon a court; at the opposite end the door.
opinion or judgment
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He had a long, ugly face with a swarthy complexion, and eyes that were sharp and cold like steel, piercing as the point of a rapier and cruel.
plural of “fellow” — a boy or man
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had a long, ugly face with a swarthy complexion, and eyes that were sharp and cold like steel, piercing as the point of a rapier and cruel.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had a long, ugly face with a swarthy complexion, and eyes that were sharp and cold like steel, piercing as the point of a rapier and cruel.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading In the centre of the room was a table, and before the table an officer seated, also in uniform, but his head was bare and his helmet lay on the litter of papers at his elbow.
helmetnounUS /ˈhelmət/
armor plate that protects the head
From this reading In the centre of the room was a table, and before the table an officer seated, also in uniform, but his head was bare and his helmet lay on the litter of papers at his elbow.
helmetsnounUS /ˈhelməts/
plural of “helmet” — armor plate that protects the head
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
hewnadjectiveUS /hjuːn/
cut or shaped with hard blows of a heavy cutting instrument like an ax or chisel
From this reading The office of the Polkovnik was small and narrow, low, with ceiling and walls hewn out of the rock.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In the centre of the room was a table, and before the table an officer seated, also in uniform, but his head was bare and his helmet lay on the litter of papers at his elbow.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading In the centre of the room was a table, and before the table an officer seated, also in uniform, but his head was bare and his helmet lay on the litter of papers at his elbow.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He had a long, ugly face with a swarthy complexion, and eyes that were sharp and cold like steel, piercing as the point of a rapier and cruel.
litternounUS /ˈlɪtər/
the offspring at one birth of a multiparous mammal
From this reading In the centre of the room was a table, and before the table an officer seated, also in uniform, but his head was bare and his helmet lay on the litter of papers at his elbow.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading He had a long, ugly face with a swarthy complexion, and eyes that were sharp and cold like steel, piercing as the point of a rapier and cruel.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading At one end was a window barred, looking out upon a court; at the opposite end the door.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The office of the Polkovnik was small and narrow, low, with ceiling and walls hewn out of the rock.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The office of the Polkovnik was small and narrow, low, with ceiling and walls hewn out of the rock.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The office of the Polkovnik was small and narrow, low, with ceiling and walls hewn out of the rock.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading The office of the Polkovnik was small and narrow, low, with ceiling and walls hewn out of the rock.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading In the centre of the room was a table, and before the table an officer seated, also in uniform, but his head was bare and his helmet lay on the litter of papers at his elbow.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At one end was a window barred, looking out upon a court; at the opposite end the door.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading At one end was a window barred, looking out upon a court; at the opposite end the door.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The office of the Polkovnik was small and narrow, low, with ceiling and walls hewn out of the rock.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading In the centre of the room was a table, and before the table an officer seated, also in uniform, but his head was bare and his helmet lay on the litter of papers at his elbow.
piercingadjectiveUS /ˈpɪrsɪŋ/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading He had a long, ugly face with a swarthy complexion, and eyes that were sharp and cold like steel, piercing as the point of a rapier and cruel.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading He had a long, ugly face with a swarthy complexion, and eyes that were sharp and cold like steel, piercing as the point of a rapier and cruel.
Polkovnik
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The office of the Polkovnik was small and narrow, low, with ceiling and walls hewn out of the rock.
rapiernounUS /ˈreɪpiər/
a straight sword with a narrow blade and two edges
From this reading He had a long, ugly face with a swarthy complexion, and eyes that were sharp and cold like steel, piercing as the point of a rapier and cruel.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The office of the Polkovnik was small and narrow, low, with ceiling and walls hewn out of the rock.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading In the centre of the room was a table, and before the table an officer seated, also in uniform, but his head was bare and his helmet lay on the litter of papers at his elbow.
sabred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
only a very short time before
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading In the centre of the room was a table, and before the table an officer seated, also in uniform, but his head was bare and his helmet lay on the litter of papers at his elbow.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading He had a long, ugly face with a swarthy complexion, and eyes that were sharp and cold like steel, piercing as the point of a rapier and cruel.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The office of the Polkovnik was small and narrow, low, with ceiling and walls hewn out of the rock.
an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading He had a long, ugly face with a swarthy complexion, and eyes that were sharp and cold like steel, piercing as the point of a rapier and cruel.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
successive (without a break)
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
swarthyadjectiveUS /ˈswɔːrði/
naturally having skin of a dark color
From this reading He had a long, ugly face with a swarthy complexion, and eyes that were sharp and cold like steel, piercing as the point of a rapier and cruel.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading In the centre of the room was a table, and before the table an officer seated, also in uniform, but his head was bare and his helmet lay on the litter of papers at his elbow.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had a long, ugly face with a swarthy complexion, and eyes that were sharp and cold like steel, piercing as the point of a rapier and cruel.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The office of the Polkovnik was small and narrow, low, with ceiling and walls hewn out of the rock.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading He had a long, ugly face with a swarthy complexion, and eyes that were sharp and cold like steel, piercing as the point of a rapier and cruel.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
uniformadjectiveUS /ˈjuːnəfɔːrm/
always the same; showing a single form or character in all occurrences
From this reading On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fellows, sabred, with their helmets belted under their chins, and their fierce, black eyes staring straight ahead, scarcely blinking.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading At one end was a window barred, looking out upon a court; at the opposite end the door.
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 The office of the Polkovnik was small and narrow, low, with ceiling and walls hewn out of the rock.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The office of the Polkovnik was small and narrow, low, with ceiling and walls hewn out of the rock.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He had a long, ugly face with a swarthy complexion, and eyes that were sharp and cold like steel, piercing as the point of a rapier and cruel.
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 At one end was a window barred, looking out upon a court; at the opposite end the door.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The office of the Polkovnik was small and narrow, low, with ceiling and walls hewn out of the rock.
