used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had climbed the cliffs, passed through the jungle that bordered them, and now stood surrounded by evidences of a vanished state.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Neither man nor beast threatened him in the solitude which brooded over the castellated isle of Xapur.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
bladenounUS /bleɪd/
especially a leaf of grass or the broad portion of a leaf as distinct from the petiole
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
borderedadjectiveUS /ˈbɔːrdərd/
having a border especially of a specified kind; sometimes used as a combining term
From this reading He had climbed the cliffs, passed through the jungle that bordered them, and now stood surrounded by evidences of a vanished state.
of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
broodedverbUS /ˈbruːdɪd/
past form of “brood” — think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading Neither man nor beast threatened him in the solitude which brooded over the castellated isle of Xapur.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had climbed the cliffs, passed through the jungle that bordered them, and now stood surrounded by evidences of a vanished state.
castellatedadjective
having or resembling repeated square indentations like those in a battlement
From this reading Neither man nor beast threatened him in the solitude which brooded over the castellated isle of Xapur.
cliffsnounUS /klɪfs/
plural of “cliff” — a steep high face of rock
From this reading He had climbed the cliffs, passed through the jungle that bordered them, and now stood surrounded by evidences of a vanished state.
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading He had climbed the cliffs, passed through the jungle that bordered them, and now stood surrounded by evidences of a vanished state.
columnsnounUS /ˈkɑːləmz/
plural of “column” — a line of units following one after another
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
crackedadjectiveUS /krækt/
used of skin roughened as a result of cold or exposure
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
crescentnounUS /ˈkresənt/
any shape resembling the curved shape of the moon in its first or last quarters
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
crumblingverbUS /ˈkrʌmbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “crumble” — fall apart
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
disembowelverb
remove the entrails of
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
divisible by two
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
evidencesnounUS /ˈevədənsəz/
plural of “evidence” — your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading He had climbed the cliffs, passed through the jungle that bordered them, and now stood surrounded by evidences of a vanished state.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
fishermannounUS /ˈfɪʃərmæn/
someone whose occupation is catching fish
From this reading The fisherman loosened his knife in its scabbard.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
glimmered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had climbed the cliffs, passed through the jungle that bordered them, and now stood surrounded by evidences of a vanished state.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Neither man nor beast threatened him in the solitude which brooded over the castellated isle of Xapur.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The fisherman loosened his knife in its scabbard.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The fisherman loosened his knife in its scabbard.
instinctiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪv/
unthinking; prompted by (or as if by) instinct
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
islenounUS /aɪl/
a small island
From this reading Neither man nor beast threatened him in the solitude which brooded over the castellated isle of Xapur.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The fisherman loosened his knife in its scabbard.
junglenounUS /ˈdʒʌŋɡəl/
a location marked by an intense competition and struggle for survival
From this reading He had climbed the cliffs, passed through the jungle that bordered them, and now stood surrounded by evidences of a vanished state.
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading The fisherman loosened his knife in its scabbard.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
loosenedadjectiveUS /ˈluːsənd/
straightened out
From this reading The fisherman loosened his knife in its scabbard.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
meanderedverbUS /miˈændərd/
past form of “meander” — to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Neither man nor beast threatened him in the solitude which brooded over the castellated isle of Xapur.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Neither man nor beast threatened him in the solitude which brooded over the castellated isle of Xapur.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He had climbed the cliffs, passed through the jungle that bordered them, and now stood surrounded by evidences of a vanished state.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Neither man nor beast threatened him in the solitude which brooded over the castellated isle of Xapur.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading He had climbed the cliffs, passed through the jungle that bordered them, and now stood surrounded by evidences of a vanished state.
pavesnounUS /peɪvz/
plural of “pave” — a setting with precious stones so closely set that no metal shows
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
rootsnounUS /ruːts/
the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
saw-edged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
scabbardnounUS /ˈskæbərd/
a sheath for a sword or dagger or bayonet
From this reading The fisherman loosened his knife in its scabbard.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
slayverbUS /sleɪ/
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
solitudenounUS /ˈsɑːlətuːd/
a state of social isolation
From this reading Neither man nor beast threatened him in the solitude which brooded over the castellated isle of Xapur.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading He had climbed the cliffs, passed through the jungle that bordered them, and now stood surrounded by evidences of a vanished state.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He had climbed the cliffs, passed through the jungle that bordered them, and now stood surrounded by evidences of a vanished state.
stragglingadjective
spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
confined on all sides
From this reading He had climbed the cliffs, passed through the jungle that bordered them, and now stood surrounded by evidences of a vanished state.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The fisherman loosened his knife in its scabbard.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He had climbed the cliffs, passed through the jungle that bordered them, and now stood surrounded by evidences of a vanished state.
(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered
From this reading Neither man nor beast threatened him in the solitude which brooded over the castellated isle of Xapur.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He had climbed the cliffs, passed through the jungle that bordered them, and now stood surrounded by evidences of a vanished state.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
directed up
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
having passed out of existence
From this reading He had climbed the cliffs, passed through the jungle that bordered them, and now stood surrounded by evidences of a vanished state.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Broken columns glimmered among the trees, the straggling lines of crumbling walls meandered off into the shadows, and under his feet were broad paves, cracked and bowed by roots growing beneath.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Neither man nor beast threatened him in the solitude which brooded over the castellated isle of Xapur.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
Xapur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither man nor beast threatened him in the solitude which brooded over the castellated isle of Xapur.
Yuetshi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gesture was instinctive, for what he feared was nothing a knife could slay, not even the saw-edged crescent blade of the Yuetshi that could disembowel a man with an upward stroke.
