used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He leaned over the balustrade, and saw: very plainly a soldier lying prone on the straw.
accentsnounUS /ˈæksents/
plural of “accent” — distinctive manner of oral expression
From this reading "If they were to awake?" murmured the young girl in accents of anguish.
AdieunounUS /əˈduː/
a farewell remark
From this reading "Adieu, then," replied she, sobbing; "may Heaven preserve you!"
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading "They will not take me alive, be assured," said the marquis.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He leaned over the balustrade, and saw: very plainly a soldier lying prone on the straw.
extreme mental distress
From this reading "If they were to awake?" murmured the young girl in accents of anguish.
marked by assurance; exhibiting confidence
From this reading "They will not take me alive, be assured," said the marquis.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading "If they were to awake?" murmured the young girl in accents of anguish.
balustradenoun
a railing at the side of a staircase or balcony to prevent people from falling
From this reading He leaned over the balustrade, and saw: very plainly a soldier lying prone on the straw.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "They will not take me alive, be assured," said the marquis.
bestrodeverbUS /bɪˈstroʊd/
inflected form of “bestride” — get up on the back of
From this reading He bestrode the balustrade, spread himself out upon it, and fell heavily on the dungheap.
dungheap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He bestrode the balustrade, spread himself out upon it, and fell heavily on the dungheap.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading He bestrode the balustrade, spread himself out upon it, and fell heavily on the dungheap.
a young female
From this reading "If they were to awake?" murmured the young girl in accents of anguish.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He leaned over the balustrade, and saw: very plainly a soldier lying prone on the straw.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading "Adieu, then," replied she, sobbing; "may Heaven preserve you!"
to a considerable degree
From this reading He bestrode the balustrade, spread himself out upon it, and fell heavily on the dungheap.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He bestrode the balustrade, spread himself out upon it, and fell heavily on the dungheap.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "If they were to awake?" murmured the young girl in accents of anguish.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "If they were to awake?" murmured the young girl in accents of anguish.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He bestrode the balustrade, spread himself out upon it, and fell heavily on the dungheap.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading He leaned over the balustrade, and saw: very plainly a soldier lying prone on the straw.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading He leaned over the balustrade, and saw: very plainly a soldier lying prone on the straw.
humorist who wrote about the imaginary life of cockroaches (1878-1937)
From this reading "They will not take me alive, be assured," said the marquis.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "Adieu, then," replied she, sobbing; "may Heaven preserve you!"
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "They will not take me alive, be assured," said the marquis.
past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly
From this reading "If they were to awake?" murmured the young girl in accents of anguish.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "They will not take me alive, be assured," said the marquis.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "If they were to awake?" murmured the young girl in accents of anguish.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He leaned over the balustrade, and saw: very plainly a soldier lying prone on the straw.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He bestrode the balustrade, spread himself out upon it, and fell heavily on the dungheap.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He leaned over the balustrade, and saw: very plainly a soldier lying prone on the straw.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading He leaned over the balustrade, and saw: very plainly a soldier lying prone on the straw.
preserveverbUS /prəˈzɜːrv/
keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last
From this reading "Adieu, then," replied she, sobbing; "may Heaven preserve you!"
proneadjectiveUS /proʊn/
having a tendency (to); often used in combination
From this reading He leaned over the balustrade, and saw: very plainly a soldier lying prone on the straw.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "Adieu, then," replied she, sobbing; "may Heaven preserve you!"
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "They will not take me alive, be assured," said the marquis.
cut with a saw
From this reading He leaned over the balustrade, and saw: very plainly a soldier lying prone on the straw.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Adieu, then," replied she, sobbing; "may Heaven preserve you!"
sobbingnounUS /ˈsɑːbɪŋ/
convulsive gasp made while weeping
From this reading "Adieu, then," replied she, sobbing; "may Heaven preserve you!"
an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading He leaned over the balustrade, and saw: very plainly a soldier lying prone on the straw.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading He bestrode the balustrade, spread himself out upon it, and fell heavily on the dungheap.
plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder
From this reading He leaned over the balustrade, and saw: very plainly a soldier lying prone on the straw.
carry out
From this reading "They will not take me alive, be assured," said the marquis.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He leaned over the balustrade, and saw: very plainly a soldier lying prone on the straw.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading "Adieu, then," replied she, sobbing; "may Heaven preserve you!"
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "If they were to awake?" murmured the young girl in accents of anguish.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "If they were to awake?" murmured the young girl in accents of anguish.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He bestrode the balustrade, spread himself out upon it, and fell heavily on the dungheap.
precisely as stated
From this reading He leaned over the balustrade, and saw: very plainly a soldier lying prone on the straw.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "If they were to awake?" murmured the young girl in accents of anguish.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "They will not take me alive, be assured," said the marquis.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Adieu, then," replied she, sobbing; "may Heaven preserve you!"
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading "If they were to awake?" murmured the young girl in accents of anguish.
