used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was, as I had dreaded, a skilled swordsman, and he pressed his skill to the service of his anger.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Now the point of his rapier twirled and spun like a spark of fire; now the blade coiled about mine with a sharp hiss like some lithe, glittering serpent.
(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 Not that I took any thought of this alteration at the time, for the Count attacked me with extraordinary fury, and I needed all my wits to defend myself from his violence.
alterationnounUS /ˌɔːltərˈeɪʃən/
an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
From this reading Not that I took any thought of this alteration at the time, for the Count attacked me with extraordinary fury, and I needed all my wits to defend myself from his violence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Not that I took any thought of this alteration at the time, for the Count attacked me with extraordinary fury, and I needed all my wits to defend myself from his violence.
a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
From this reading He was, as I had dreaded, a skilled swordsman, and he pressed his skill to the service of his anger.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Not that I took any thought of this alteration at the time, for the Count attacked me with extraordinary fury, and I needed all my wits to defend myself from his violence.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was, as I had dreaded, a skilled swordsman, and he pressed his skill to the service of his anger.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Not that I took any thought of this alteration at the time, for the Count attacked me with extraordinary fury, and I needed all my wits to defend myself from his violence.
attackedverbUS /əˈtækt/
past form of “attack” — launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
From this reading Not that I took any thought of this alteration at the time, for the Count attacked me with extraordinary fury, and I needed all my wits to defend myself from his violence.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
bladenounUS /bleɪd/
especially a leaf of grass or the broad portion of a leaf as distinct from the petiole
From this reading Now the point of his rapier twirled and spun like a spark of fire; now the blade coiled about mine with a sharp hiss like some lithe, glittering serpent.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
coiledadjectiveUS /kɔɪld/
curled or wound (especially in concentric rings or spirals)
From this reading Now the point of his rapier twirled and spun like a spark of fire; now the blade coiled about mine with a sharp hiss like some lithe, glittering serpent.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
determine the number or amount of
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
defendverbUS /dɪˈfend/
argue or speak in defense of
From this reading Not that I took any thought of this alteration at the time, for the Count attacked me with extraordinary fury, and I needed all my wits to defend myself from his violence.
DISCOURSEnounUS /ˈdɪskɔːrs/
extended verbal expression in speech or writing
From this reading SWORDS TAKE UP THE DISCOURSE.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
dreadedadjectiveUS /ˈdredɪd/
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading He was, as I had dreaded, a skilled swordsman, and he pressed his skill to the service of his anger.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading Not that I took any thought of this alteration at the time, for the Count attacked me with extraordinary fury, and I needed all my wits to defend myself from his violence.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Now the point of his rapier twirled and spun like a spark of fire; now the blade coiled about mine with a sharp hiss like some lithe, glittering serpent.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Not that I took any thought of this alteration at the time, for the Count attacked me with extraordinary fury, and I needed all my wits to defend myself from his violence.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Not that I took any thought of this alteration at the time, for the Count attacked me with extraordinary fury, and I needed all my wits to defend myself from his violence.
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading Not that I took any thought of this alteration at the time, for the Count attacked me with extraordinary fury, and I needed all my wits to defend myself from his violence.
glitteringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪtərɪŋ/
having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
From this reading Now the point of his rapier twirled and spun like a spark of fire; now the blade coiled about mine with a sharp hiss like some lithe, glittering serpent.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was, as I had dreaded, a skilled swordsman, and he pressed his skill to the service of his anger.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Not that I took any thought of this alteration at the time, for the Count attacked me with extraordinary fury, and I needed all my wits to defend myself from his violence.
hissverbUS /hɪs/
make a sharp hissing sound, as if to show disapproval
From this reading Now the point of his rapier twirled and spun like a spark of fire; now the blade coiled about mine with a sharp hiss like some lithe, glittering serpent.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Now the point of his rapier twirled and spun like a spark of fire; now the blade coiled about mine with a sharp hiss like some lithe, glittering serpent.
litheadjectiveUS /laɪð/
gracefully thin and bending and moving with ease
From this reading Now the point of his rapier twirled and spun like a spark of fire; now the blade coiled about mine with a sharp hiss like some lithe, glittering serpent.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Not that I took any thought of this alteration at the time, for the Count attacked me with extraordinary fury, and I needed all my wits to defend myself from his violence.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Now the point of his rapier twirled and spun like a spark of fire; now the blade coiled about mine with a sharp hiss like some lithe, glittering serpent.
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Not that I took any thought of this alteration at the time, for the Count attacked me with extraordinary fury, and I needed all my wits to defend myself from his violence.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading Not that I took any thought of this alteration at the time, for the Count attacked me with extraordinary fury, and I needed all my wits to defend myself from his violence.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not that I took any thought of this alteration at the time, for the Count attacked me with extraordinary fury, and I needed all my wits to defend myself from his violence.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Now the point of his rapier twirled and spun like a spark of fire; now the blade coiled about mine with a sharp hiss like some lithe, glittering serpent.
positionsnounUS /pəˈzɪʃənz/
plural of “position” — the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
compacted by ironing
From this reading He was, as I had dreaded, a skilled swordsman, and he pressed his skill to the service of his anger.
rapiernounUS /ˈreɪpiər/
a straight sword with a narrow blade and two edges
From this reading Now the point of his rapier twirled and spun like a spark of fire; now the blade coiled about mine with a sharp hiss like some lithe, glittering serpent.
reversedadjectiveUS /rɪˈvɜːrst/
turned inside out and resewn
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
serpentnounUS /ˈsɜːrpənt/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading Now the point of his rapier twirled and spun like a spark of fire; now the blade coiled about mine with a sharp hiss like some lithe, glittering serpent.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading He was, as I had dreaded, a skilled swordsman, and he pressed his skill to the service of his anger.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading Now the point of his rapier twirled and spun like a spark of fire; now the blade coiled about mine with a sharp hiss like some lithe, glittering serpent.
an ability that has been acquired by training
From this reading He was, as I had dreaded, a skilled swordsman, and he pressed his skill to the service of his anger.
skilledadjectiveUS /skɪld/
having or showing or requiring special skill
From this reading He was, as I had dreaded, a skilled swordsman, and he pressed his skill to the service of his anger.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Now the point of his rapier twirled and spun like a spark of fire; now the blade coiled about mine with a sharp hiss like some lithe, glittering serpent.
sparknounUS /spɑːrk/
a momentary flash of light
From this reading Now the point of his rapier twirled and spun like a spark of fire; now the blade coiled about mine with a sharp hiss like some lithe, glittering serpent.
spunverbUS /spʌn/
inflected form of “spin” — revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis
From this reading Now the point of his rapier twirled and spun like a spark of fire; now the blade coiled about mine with a sharp hiss like some lithe, glittering serpent.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
SWORDSnounUS /sɔːrdz/
plural of “sword” — a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
From this reading SWORDS TAKE UP THE DISCOURSE.
swordsmannoun
someone skilled at fencing
From this reading He was, as I had dreaded, a skilled swordsman, and he pressed his skill to the service of his anger.
carry out
From this reading SWORDS TAKE UP THE DISCOURSE.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SWORDS TAKE UP THE DISCOURSE.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Not that I took any thought of this alteration at the time, for the Count attacked me with extraordinary fury, and I needed all my wits to defend myself from his violence.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Not that I took any thought of this alteration at the time, for the Count attacked me with extraordinary fury, and I needed all my wits to defend myself from his violence.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Not that I took any thought of this alteration at the time, for the Count attacked me with extraordinary fury, and I needed all my wits to defend myself from his violence.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Not that I took any thought of this alteration at the time, for the Count attacked me with extraordinary fury, and I needed all my wits to defend myself from his violence.
twirledverbUS /twɜːrld/
past form of “twirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading Now the point of his rapier twirled and spun like a spark of fire; now the blade coiled about mine with a sharp hiss like some lithe, glittering serpent.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading SWORDS TAKE UP THE DISCOURSE.
an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists)
From this reading Not that I took any thought of this alteration at the time, for the Count attacked me with extraordinary fury, and I needed all my wits to defend myself from his violence.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was, as I had dreaded, a skilled swordsman, and he pressed his skill to the service of his anger.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
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 By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
in the company of; together with
From this reading By these movements we had completely reversed our positions, so that now I stood with my back to the window, while the Count held that end of the room in which the doors were set.
witsnounUS /wɪts/
the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception
From this reading Not that I took any thought of this alteration at the time, for the Count attacked me with extraordinary fury, and I needed all my wits to defend myself from his violence.
