used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But though the effects of their work of ruin were visible enough, of the barbarians themselves no one had yet caught a glimpse.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Day after day the burgesses of Venta awaited the course of events.
(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 For some time they hoped that, after all, the town might not be visited by the invaders.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The lurid glow of the skies by night, and the clouds of smoke by day, sometimes borne by the wind so close to the town that the smell could be distinctly recognized, proved that they were still near.
awaitedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪtɪd/
expected hopefully
From this reading Day after day the burgesses of Venta awaited the course of events.
barbariansnounUS /bɑːrˈberiənz/
plural of “barbarian” — a member of an uncivilized people
From this reading But though the effects of their work of ruin were visible enough, of the barbarians themselves no one had yet caught a glimpse.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For some time they hoped that, after all, the town might not be visited by the invaders.
inflected form of “bear” — have
From this reading The lurid glow of the skies by night, and the clouds of smoke by day, sometimes borne by the wind so close to the town that the smell could be distinctly recognized, proved that they were still near.
burgesses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Day after day the burgesses of Venta awaited the course of events.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But though the effects of their work of ruin were visible enough, of the barbarians themselves no one had yet caught a glimpse.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For some time they hoped that, after all, the town might not be visited by the invaders.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading But though the effects of their work of ruin were visible enough, of the barbarians themselves no one had yet caught a glimpse.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The lurid glow of the skies by night, and the clouds of smoke by day, sometimes borne by the wind so close to the town that the smell could be distinctly recognized, proved that they were still near.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading The lurid glow of the skies by night, and the clouds of smoke by day, sometimes borne by the wind so close to the town that the smell could be distinctly recognized, proved that they were still near.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The lurid glow of the skies by night, and the clouds of smoke by day, sometimes borne by the wind so close to the town that the smell could be distinctly recognized, proved that they were still near.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Day after day the burgesses of Venta awaited the course of events.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Day after day the burgesses of Venta awaited the course of events.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading The lurid glow of the skies by night, and the clouds of smoke by day, sometimes borne by the wind so close to the town that the smell could be distinctly recognized, proved that they were still near.
effectsnounUS /ɪˈfekts/
property of a personal character that is portable but not used in business
From this reading But though the effects of their work of ruin were visible enough, of the barbarians themselves no one had yet caught a glimpse.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading But though the effects of their work of ruin were visible enough, of the barbarians themselves no one had yet caught a glimpse.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading Day after day the burgesses of Venta awaited the course of events.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For some time they hoped that, after all, the town might not be visited by the invaders.
a quick look
From this reading But though the effects of their work of ruin were visible enough, of the barbarians themselves no one had yet caught a glimpse.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading The lurid glow of the skies by night, and the clouds of smoke by day, sometimes borne by the wind so close to the town that the smell could be distinctly recognized, proved that they were still near.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But though the effects of their work of ruin were visible enough, of the barbarians themselves no one had yet caught a glimpse.
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading For some time they hoped that, after all, the town might not be visited by the invaders.
invadersnounUS /ˌɪnˈveɪdərz/
plural of “invader” — someone who enters by force in order to conquer
From this reading For some time they hoped that, after all, the town might not be visited by the invaders.
luridadjectiveUS /ˈlʊrəd/
horrible in fierceness or savagery
From this reading The lurid glow of the skies by night, and the clouds of smoke by day, sometimes borne by the wind so close to the town that the smell could be distinctly recognized, proved that they were still near.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading For some time they hoped that, after all, the town might not be visited by the invaders.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading The lurid glow of the skies by night, and the clouds of smoke by day, sometimes borne by the wind so close to the town that the smell could be distinctly recognized, proved that they were still near.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The lurid glow of the skies by night, and the clouds of smoke by day, sometimes borne by the wind so close to the town that the smell could be distinctly recognized, proved that they were still near.
not any; not one
From this reading But though the effects of their work of ruin were visible enough, of the barbarians themselves no one had yet caught a glimpse.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For some time they hoped that, after all, the town might not be visited by the invaders.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Day after day the burgesses of Venta awaited the course of events.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But though the effects of their work of ruin were visible enough, of the barbarians themselves no one had yet caught a glimpse.
established beyond doubt
From this reading The lurid glow of the skies by night, and the clouds of smoke by day, sometimes borne by the wind so close to the town that the smell could be distinctly recognized, proved that they were still near.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading The lurid glow of the skies by night, and the clouds of smoke by day, sometimes borne by the wind so close to the town that the smell could be distinctly recognized, proved that they were still near.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading But though the effects of their work of ruin were visible enough, of the barbarians themselves no one had yet caught a glimpse.
SIEGEnounUS /siːdʒ/
the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack
From this reading THE SIEGE.
skiesnounUS /skaɪz/
plural of “sky” — the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The lurid glow of the skies by night, and the clouds of smoke by day, sometimes borne by the wind so close to the town that the smell could be distinctly recognized, proved that they were still near.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading The lurid glow of the skies by night, and the clouds of smoke by day, sometimes borne by the wind so close to the town that the smell could be distinctly recognized, proved that they were still near.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading The lurid glow of the skies by night, and the clouds of smoke by day, sometimes borne by the wind so close to the town that the smell could be distinctly recognized, proved that they were still near.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The lurid glow of the skies by night, and the clouds of smoke by day, sometimes borne by the wind so close to the town that the smell could be distinctly recognized, proved that they were still near.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading For some time they hoped that, after all, the town might not be visited by the invaders.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading The lurid glow of the skies by night, and the clouds of smoke by day, sometimes borne by the wind so close to the town that the smell could be distinctly recognized, proved that they were still near.
not in physical motion
From this reading The lurid glow of the skies by night, and the clouds of smoke by day, sometimes borne by the wind so close to the town that the smell could be distinctly recognized, proved that they were still near.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For some time they hoped that, after all, the town might not be visited by the invaders.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SIEGE.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But though the effects of their work of ruin were visible enough, of the barbarians themselves no one had yet caught a glimpse.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading But though the effects of their work of ruin were visible enough, of the barbarians themselves no one had yet caught a glimpse.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For some time they hoped that, after all, the town might not be visited by the invaders.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading But though the effects of their work of ruin were visible enough, of the barbarians themselves no one had yet caught a glimpse.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For some time they hoped that, after all, the town might not be visited by the invaders.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The lurid glow of the skies by night, and the clouds of smoke by day, sometimes borne by the wind so close to the town that the smell could be distinctly recognized, proved that they were still near.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading For some time they hoped that, after all, the town might not be visited by the invaders.
Venta
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Day after day the burgesses of Venta awaited the course of events.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading But though the effects of their work of ruin were visible enough, of the barbarians themselves no one had yet caught a glimpse.
past form of “visit” — go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading For some time they hoped that, after all, the town might not be visited by the invaders.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The lurid glow of the skies by night, and the clouds of smoke by day, sometimes borne by the wind so close to the town that the smell could be distinctly recognized, proved that they were still near.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The lurid glow of the skies by night, and the clouds of smoke by day, sometimes borne by the wind so close to the town that the smell could be distinctly recognized, proved that they were still near.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading But though the effects of their work of ruin were visible enough, of the barbarians themselves no one had yet caught a glimpse.
but in spite of that
From this reading But though the effects of their work of ruin were visible enough, of the barbarians themselves no one had yet caught a glimpse.
