used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Hope and Despair Two more weary days passed inside the fortified house.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
assailantsnounUS /əˈseɪlənts/
plural of “assailant” — someone who attacks
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
attacksnounUS /əˈtæks/
plural of “attack” — (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading Numerous attacks had been made, and though they had invariably failed, some damage had been inflicted on the besieged.
attemptsnounUS /əˈtempts/
plural of “attempt” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Numerous attacks had been made, and though they had invariably failed, some damage had been inflicted on the besieged.
besiegedadjectiveUS /bɪˈsiːdʒd/
surrounded by hostile forces
From this reading Numerous attacks had been made, and though they had invariably failed, some damage had been inflicted on the besieged.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
CorpsnounUS /kɔːr/
an army unit usually consisting of two or more divisions and their support
From this reading "I'm a sepoy of the Guide Corps!"
costumenounUS /kɑːˈstuːm/
the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
damagenounUS /ˈdæmədʒ/
the occurrence of a change for the worse
From this reading Numerous attacks had been made, and though they had invariably failed, some damage had been inflicted on the besieged.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Hope and Despair Two more weary days passed inside the fortified house.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading Hope and Despair Two more weary days passed inside the fortified house.
disordernounUS /dɪˈsɔːrdər/
a physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading Numerous attacks had been made, and though they had invariably failed, some damage had been inflicted on the besieged.
fortifiedadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrtəfaɪd/
secured with bastions or fortifications
From this reading Hope and Despair Two more weary days passed inside the fortified house.
futileadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtəl/
producing no result or effect
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
someone employed to conduct others
From this reading "I'm a sepoy of the Guide Corps!"
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Numerous attacks had been made, and though they had invariably failed, some damage had been inflicted on the besieged.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Quick! let me in!" he shouted.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Hope and Despair Two more weary days passed inside the fortified house.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Hope and Despair Two more weary days passed inside the fortified house.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'm a sepoy of the Guide Corps!"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
inflictedverbUS /ˌɪnˈflɪktɪd/
past form of “inflict” — impose something unpleasant
From this reading Numerous attacks had been made, and though they had invariably failed, some damage had been inflicted on the besieged.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading Hope and Despair Two more weary days passed inside the fortified house.
invariablyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈveriəbli/
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading Numerous attacks had been made, and though they had invariably failed, some damage had been inflicted on the besieged.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading "Quick! let me in!" he shouted.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
light-featured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Numerous attacks had been made, and though they had invariably failed, some damage had been inflicted on the besieged.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Quick! let me in!" he shouted.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Hope and Despair Two more weary days passed inside the fortified house.
amounting to a large indefinite number
From this reading Numerous attacks had been made, and though they had invariably failed, some damage had been inflicted on the besieged.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Numerous attacks had been made, and though they had invariably failed, some damage had been inflicted on the besieged.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Hope and Despair Two more weary days passed inside the fortified house.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading "Quick! let me in!" he shouted.
retiringadjectiveUS /rɪˈtaɪrɪŋ/
not arrogant or presuming
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
scantyadjectiveUS /ˈskænti/
lacking in magnitude or quantity
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
sealedadjectiveUS /siːld/
established irrevocably
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
sepoy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'm a sepoy of the Guide Corps!"
in a vehement outcry
From this reading "Quick! let me in!" he shouted.
sidledverbUS /ˈsaɪdəld/
past form of “sidle” — move unobtrusively or furtively
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Numerous attacks had been made, and though they had invariably failed, some damage had been inflicted on the besieged.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Hope and Despair Two more weary days passed inside the fortified house.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Numerous attacks had been made, and though they had invariably failed, some damage had been inflicted on the besieged.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Numerous attacks had been made, and though they had invariably failed, some damage had been inflicted on the besieged.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Hope and Despair Two more weary days passed inside the fortified house.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
wavingnounUS /ˈweɪvɪŋ/
the act of signaling by a movement of the hand
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading Hope and Despair Two more weary days passed inside the fortified house.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading As the assailants were retiring in disorder after one of these futile attempts, a big, light-featured man in scanty costume sidled up to the house, waving a sealed letter.
