used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
(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 Their appearance was rendered all the more hideous and strange, seeing that their chiefs were tattooed with a bright red on their foreheads, their cheeks and around their eyes.
aloftadverbUS /əˈlɔːft/
at or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
ambushverbUS /ˈæmbʊʃ/
wait in hiding to attack
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Their arms, legs and faces were dyed black in order to escape detection when they march in the shadow of the forests or contemplate an attack in the night.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They carried black bucklers and wore casques made of black calves' skin.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading Their appearance was rendered all the more hideous and strange, seeing that their chiefs were tattooed with a bright red on their foreheads, their cheeks and around their eyes.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Their arms, legs and faces were dyed black in order to escape detection when they march in the shadow of the forests or contemplate an attack in the night.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Their appearance was rendered all the more hideous and strange, seeing that their chiefs were tattooed with a bright red on their foreheads, their cheeks and around their eyes.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading Their arms, legs and faces were dyed black in order to escape detection when they march in the shadow of the forests or contemplate an attack in the night.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
belongingnounUS /bɪˈlɔːŋɪŋ/
happiness felt in a secure relationship
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading They carried black bucklers and wore casques made of black calves' skin.
a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Their appearance was rendered all the more hideous and strange, seeing that their chiefs were tattooed with a bright red on their foreheads, their cheeks and around their eyes.
bucklers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They carried black bucklers and wore casques made of black calves' skin.
calvesnounUS /kævz/
plural of “calf” — young of domestic cattle
From this reading They carried black bucklers and wore casques made of black calves' skin.
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 black bucklers and wore casques made of black calves' skin.
casques
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They carried black bucklers and wore casques made of black calves' skin.
plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading Their appearance was rendered all the more hideous and strange, seeing that their chiefs were tattooed with a bright red on their foreheads, their cheeks and around their eyes.
chiefsnounUS /tʃiːfs/
plural of “chief” — a person who is in charge
From this reading Their appearance was rendered all the more hideous and strange, seeing that their chiefs were tattooed with a bright red on their foreheads, their cheeks and around their eyes.
contemplateverbUS /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪt/
look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
From this reading Their arms, legs and faces were dyed black in order to escape detection when they march in the shadow of the forests or contemplate an attack in the night.
detectionnounUS /dɪˈtekʃən/
the perception that something has occurred or some state exists
From this reading Their arms, legs and faces were dyed black in order to escape detection when they march in the shadow of the forests or contemplate an attack in the night.
dyedadjectiveUS /daɪd/
(used of color) artificially produced; not natural
From this reading Their arms, legs and faces were dyed black in order to escape detection when they march in the shadow of the forests or contemplate an attack in the night.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading Their arms, legs and faces were dyed black in order to escape detection when they march in the shadow of the forests or contemplate an attack in the night.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Their appearance was rendered all the more hideous and strange, seeing that their chiefs were tattooed with a bright red on their foreheads, their cheeks and around their eyes.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Their arms, legs and faces were dyed black in order to escape detection when they march in the shadow of the forests or contemplate an attack in the night.
foreheadsnounUS /ˈfɔːrhedz/
plural of “forehead” — the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading Their appearance was rendered all the more hideous and strange, seeing that their chiefs were tattooed with a bright red on their foreheads, their cheeks and around their eyes.
forestsnounUS /ˈfɔːrəsts/
plural of “forest” — the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading Their arms, legs and faces were dyed black in order to escape detection when they march in the shadow of the forests or contemplate an attack in the night.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
FRANKSnounUS /fræŋks/
plural of “frank” — a member of the ancient Germanic peoples who spread from the Rhine into the Roman Empire in the 4th century
From this reading THE HORDES OF THE FRANKS.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
only a very short time before
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
hideousadjectiveUS /ˈhɪdiəs/
grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
From this reading Their appearance was rendered all the more hideous and strange, seeing that their chiefs were tattooed with a bright red on their foreheads, their cheeks and around their eyes.
the act of retaining something
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
HORDESnounUS /hɔːrdz/
plural of “horde” — a vast multitude
From this reading THE HORDES OF THE FRANKS.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
lainverbUS /leɪn/
inflected form of “lie” — be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
staying power
From this reading Their arms, legs and faces were dyed black in order to escape detection when they march in the shadow of the forests or contemplate an attack in the night.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading They carried black bucklers and wore casques made of black calves' skin.
march in a procession
From this reading Their arms, legs and faces were dyed black in order to escape detection when they march in the shadow of the forests or contemplate an attack in the night.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Their appearance was rendered all the more hideous and strange, seeing that their chiefs were tattooed with a bright red on their foreheads, their cheeks and around their eyes.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Their arms, legs and faces were dyed black in order to escape detection when they march in the shadow of the forests or contemplate an attack in the night.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE HORDES OF THE FRANKS.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Their appearance was rendered all the more hideous and strange, seeing that their chiefs were tattooed with a bright red on their foreheads, their cheeks and around their eyes.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Their arms, legs and faces were dyed black in order to escape detection when they march in the shadow of the forests or contemplate an attack in the night.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Their arms, legs and faces were dyed black in order to escape detection when they march in the shadow of the forests or contemplate an attack in the night.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Their appearance was rendered all the more hideous and strange, seeing that their chiefs were tattooed with a bright red on their foreheads, their cheeks and around their eyes.
past form of “render” — cause to become
From this reading Their appearance was rendered all the more hideous and strange, seeing that their chiefs were tattooed with a bright red on their foreheads, their cheeks and around their eyes.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
move hurridly
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
cut with a saw
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading Their appearance was rendered all the more hideous and strange, seeing that their chiefs were tattooed with a bright red on their foreheads, their cheeks and around their eyes.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Their arms, legs and faces were dyed black in order to escape detection when they march in the shadow of the forests or contemplate an attack in the night.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading They carried black bucklers and wore casques made of black calves' skin.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Their appearance was rendered all the more hideous and strange, seeing that their chiefs were tattooed with a bright red on their foreheads, their cheeks and around their eyes.
tattooedverbUS /ˌtæˈtuːd/
past form of “tattoo” — stain (skin) with indelible color
From this reading Their appearance was rendered all the more hideous and strange, seeing that their chiefs were tattooed with a bright red on their foreheads, their cheeks and around their eyes.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Their appearance was rendered all the more hideous and strange, seeing that their chiefs were tattooed with a bright red on their foreheads, their cheeks and around their eyes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HORDES OF THE FRANKS.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Their appearance was rendered all the more hideous and strange, seeing that their chiefs were tattooed with a bright red on their foreheads, their cheeks and around their eyes.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Their arms, legs and faces were dyed black in order to escape detection when they march in the shadow of the forests or contemplate an attack in the night.
at the time that
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
in or at the place that
From this reading I had hardly reached the shore, always holding the green oak branch aloft, when I saw a large number of Franks, belonging to the hordes of their army, rush forward from behind the rocks where they had lain in ambush.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Their appearance was rendered all the more hideous and strange, seeing that their chiefs were tattooed with a bright red on their foreheads, their cheeks and around their eyes.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading They carried black bucklers and wore casques made of black calves' skin.
