used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Seldom has a nation placed the supreme power, both religious and political, in the hands of one person.
abodenounUS /əˈboʊd/
any address at which you dwell more than temporarily
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
in addition
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Seldom has a nation placed the supreme power, both religious and political, in the hands of one person.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
autocracynounUS /ɔːˈtɑːkrəsi/
a political system governed by a single individual
From this reading It is concrete autocracy and usually a priesthood protects a country from its king while the king protects it from the priests.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Seldom has a nation placed the supreme power, both religious and political, in the hands of one person.
a youthful male person
From this reading But here was decidedly a one-man rule—and the man was a boy.
boy'snounUS /bɔɪz/
possessive form of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading If we could win the boy’s friendship there were no complications to thwart his will, and therein lay our sole chance of salvation.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But here was decidedly a one-man rule—and the man was a boy.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading If we could win the boy’s friendship there were no complications to thwart his will, and therein lay our sole chance of salvation.
complicationsnounUS /ˌkɑːmpləˈkeɪʃənz/
plural of “complication” — the act or process of complicating
From this reading If we could win the boy’s friendship there were no complications to thwart his will, and therein lay our sole chance of salvation.
concreteadjectiveUS /kənˈkriːt/
capable of being perceived by the senses; not abstract or imaginary
From this reading It is concrete autocracy and usually a priesthood protects a country from its king while the king protects it from the priests.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If we could win the boy’s friendship there were no complications to thwart his will, and therein lay our sole chance of salvation.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading It is concrete autocracy and usually a priesthood protects a country from its king while the king protects it from the priests.
decidedlyadverbUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdədli/
without question and beyond doubt
From this reading But here was decidedly a one-man rule—and the man was a boy.
fittingadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtɪŋ/
in harmony with the spirit of particular persons or occasion
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
the state of being friends (or friendly)
From this reading If we could win the boy’s friendship there were no complications to thwart his will, and therein lay our sole chance of salvation.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It is concrete autocracy and usually a priesthood protects a country from its king while the king protects it from the priests.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Seldom has a nation placed the supreme power, both religious and political, in the hands of one person.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Seldom has a nation placed the supreme power, both religious and political, in the hands of one person.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading But here was decidedly a one-man rule—and the man was a boy.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If we could win the boy’s friendship there were no complications to thwart his will, and therein lay our sole chance of salvation.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is concrete autocracy and usually a priesthood protects a country from its king while the king protects it from the priests.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It is concrete autocracy and usually a priesthood protects a country from its king while the king protects it from the priests.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading If we could win the boy’s friendship there were no complications to thwart his will, and therein lay our sole chance of salvation.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading But here was decidedly a one-man rule—and the man was a boy.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Seldom has a nation placed the supreme power, both religious and political, in the hands of one person.
not any; not one
From this reading If we could win the boy’s friendship there were no complications to thwart his will, and therein lay our sole chance of salvation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Seldom has a nation placed the supreme power, both religious and political, in the hands of one person.
one-manadjectiveUS /ˈwʌnˈmæn/
designed for or restricted to a single person
From this reading But here was decidedly a one-man rule—and the man was a boy.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading If we could win the boy’s friendship there were no complications to thwart his will, and therein lay our sole chance of salvation.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
PearlnounUS /pɜːrl/
a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
a human being
From this reading Seldom has a nation placed the supreme power, both religious and political, in the hands of one person.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading Seldom has a nation placed the supreme power, both religious and political, in the hands of one person.
involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians
From this reading Seldom has a nation placed the supreme power, both religious and political, in the hands of one person.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading Seldom has a nation placed the supreme power, both religious and political, in the hands of one person.
a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
priesthoodnounUS /ˈpriːsthʊd/
the body of ordained religious practitioners
From this reading It is concrete autocracy and usually a priesthood protects a country from its king while the king protects it from the priests.
priestsnounUS /priːsts/
plural of “priest” — a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
From this reading It is concrete autocracy and usually a priesthood protects a country from its king while the king protects it from the priests.
protectsverbUS /prəˈtekts/
third-person singular of “protect” — shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage
From this reading It is concrete autocracy and usually a priesthood protects a country from its king while the king protects it from the priests.
concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church
From this reading Seldom has a nation placed the supreme power, both religious and political, in the hands of one person.
RoyaladjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading But here was decidedly a one-man rule—and the man was a boy.
concerned with religion or religious purposes
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
salvationnounUS /sælˈveɪʃən/
(theology) the act of delivering from sin or saving from evil
From this reading If we could win the boy’s friendship there were no complications to thwart his will, and therein lay our sole chance of salvation.
not often
From this reading Seldom has a nation placed the supreme power, both religious and political, in the hands of one person.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
solenounUS /soʊl/
the underside of footwear or a golf club
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
supremeadjectiveUS /səˈpriːm/
final or last in your life or progress
From this reading Seldom has a nation placed the supreme power, both religious and political, in the hands of one person.
place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
in or at that place or location
From this reading If we could win the boy’s friendship there were no complications to thwart his will, and therein lay our sole chance of salvation.
thereinadverbUS /ðeˈrɪn/
(formal) in or into that thing or place
From this reading If we could win the boy’s friendship there were no complications to thwart his will, and therein lay our sole chance of salvation.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
thwartnounUS /θwɔːrt/
a crosspiece spreading the gunnels of a boat; used as a seat in a rowboat
From this reading If we could win the boy’s friendship there were no complications to thwart his will, and therein lay our sole chance of salvation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If we could win the boy’s friendship there were no complications to thwart his will, and therein lay our sole chance of salvation.
under normal conditions
From this reading It is concrete autocracy and usually a priesthood protects a country from its king while the king protects it from the priests.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this sacred place.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading If we could win the boy’s friendship there were no complications to thwart his will, and therein lay our sole chance of salvation.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If we could win the boy’s friendship there were no complications to thwart his will, and therein lay our sole chance of salvation.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading It is concrete autocracy and usually a priesthood protects a country from its king while the king protects it from the priests.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading If we could win the boy’s friendship there were no complications to thwart his will, and therein lay our sole chance of salvation.
be the winner in a contest or competition; be victorious
From this reading If we could win the boy’s friendship there were no complications to thwart his will, and therein lay our sole chance of salvation.
