used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After some consideration Constans decided that he would continue on towards the north, skirting this centre of danger at a safe distance until he should be some distance above it.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading After some consideration Constans decided that he would continue on towards the north, skirting this centre of danger at a safe distance until he should be some distance above it.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After some consideration Constans decided that he would continue on towards the north, skirting this centre of danger at a safe distance until he should be some distance above it.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Now, as he continued his cautious examination of the barrier, he noticed two or three spirals of smoke rising behind the parapet and going straight up into the windless air.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was still early in the morning, and up to this time Constans had not seen sign of man.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Now, as he continued his cautious examination of the barrier, he noticed two or three spirals of smoke rising behind the parapet and going straight up into the windless air.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading After some consideration Constans decided that he would continue on towards the north, skirting this centre of danger at a safe distance until he should be some distance above it.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The hornets were stirring then, and it behooved him to keep well away from their nest.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He would then work cautiously back towards the citadel, finally seeking some elevated point, such as the roof of a tall building, from which to complete his observations.
barriernounUS /ˈbæriər/
a structure or object that impedes free movement
From this reading Now, as he continued his cautious examination of the barrier, he noticed two or three spirals of smoke rising behind the parapet and going straight up into the windless air.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading After some consideration Constans decided that he would continue on towards the north, skirting this centre of danger at a safe distance until he should be some distance above it.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Now, as he continued his cautious examination of the barrier, he noticed two or three spirals of smoke rising behind the parapet and going straight up into the windless air.
behooved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hornets were stirring then, and it behooved him to keep well away from their nest.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading He would then work cautiously back towards the citadel, finally seeking some elevated point, such as the roof of a tall building, from which to complete his observations.
cautiousadjectiveUS /ˈkɔːʃəs/
showing careful forethought
From this reading Now, as he continued his cautious examination of the barrier, he noticed two or three spirals of smoke rising behind the parapet and going straight up into the windless air.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading He would then work cautiously back towards the citadel, finally seeking some elevated point, such as the roof of a tall building, from which to complete his observations.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading After some consideration Constans decided that he would continue on towards the north, skirting this centre of danger at a safe distance until he should be some distance above it.
citadelnounUS /ˈsɪt.ə.del/
A fortress protecting a city, metaphorically representing the invincible inner sanctuary of the rational mind.
From this reading He would then work cautiously back towards the citadel, finally seeking some elevated point, such as the roof of a tall building, from which to complete his observations.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading He would then work cautiously back towards the citadel, finally seeking some elevated point, such as the roof of a tall building, from which to complete his observations.
the process of giving careful thought to something
From this reading After some consideration Constans decided that he would continue on towards the north, skirting this centre of danger at a safe distance until he should be some distance above it.
Constans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was still early in the morning, and up to this time Constans had not seen sign of man.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading After some consideration Constans decided that he would continue on towards the north, skirting this centre of danger at a safe distance until he should be some distance above it.
without stop or interruption
From this reading Now, as he continued his cautious examination of the barrier, he noticed two or three spirals of smoke rising behind the parapet and going straight up into the windless air.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading After some consideration Constans decided that he would continue on towards the north, skirting this centre of danger at a safe distance until he should be some distance above it.
recognizable; marked
From this reading After some consideration Constans decided that he would continue on towards the north, skirting this centre of danger at a safe distance until he should be some distance above it.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading After some consideration Constans decided that he would continue on towards the north, skirting this centre of danger at a safe distance until he should be some distance above it.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading It was still early in the morning, and up to this time Constans had not seen sign of man.
elevatedadjectiveUS /ˈeləveɪtɪd/
raised above the ground
From this reading He would then work cautiously back towards the citadel, finally seeking some elevated point, such as the roof of a tall building, from which to complete his observations.
the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
From this reading Now, as he continued his cautious examination of the barrier, he noticed two or three spirals of smoke rising behind the parapet and going straight up into the windless air.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading He would then work cautiously back towards the citadel, finally seeking some elevated point, such as the roof of a tall building, from which to complete his observations.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The hornets were stirring then, and it behooved him to keep well away from their nest.
the act of departing
From this reading Now, as he continued his cautious examination of the barrier, he noticed two or three spirals of smoke rising behind the parapet and going straight up into the windless air.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was still early in the morning, and up to this time Constans had not seen sign of man.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now, as he continued his cautious examination of the barrier, he noticed two or three spirals of smoke rising behind the parapet and going straight up into the windless air.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The hornets were stirring then, and it behooved him to keep well away from their nest.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Now, as he continued his cautious examination of the barrier, he noticed two or three spirals of smoke rising behind the parapet and going straight up into the windless air.
hornetsnounUS /ˈhɔːrnəts/
plural of “hornet” — large stinging paper wasp
From this reading The hornets were stirring then, and it behooved him to keep well away from their nest.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was still early in the morning, and up to this time Constans had not seen sign of man.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Now, as he continued his cautious examination of the barrier, he noticed two or three spirals of smoke rising behind the parapet and going straight up into the windless air.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was still early in the morning, and up to this time Constans had not seen sign of man.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The hornets were stirring then, and it behooved him to keep well away from their nest.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It was still early in the morning, and up to this time Constans had not seen sign of man.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It was still early in the morning, and up to this time Constans had not seen sign of man.
nestnounUS /nest/
a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading The hornets were stirring then, and it behooved him to keep well away from their nest.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading After some consideration Constans decided that he would continue on towards the north, skirting this centre of danger at a safe distance until he should be some distance above it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was still early in the morning, and up to this time Constans had not seen sign of man.
being perceived or observed
From this reading Now, as he continued his cautious examination of the barrier, he noticed two or three spirals of smoke rising behind the parapet and going straight up into the windless air.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, as he continued his cautious examination of the barrier, he noticed two or three spirals of smoke rising behind the parapet and going straight up into the windless air.
observationsnounUS /ˌɑːbzərˈveɪʃənz/
plural of “observation” — the act of making and recording a measurement
From this reading He would then work cautiously back towards the citadel, finally seeking some elevated point, such as the roof of a tall building, from which to complete his observations.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was still early in the morning, and up to this time Constans had not seen sign of man.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading After some consideration Constans decided that he would continue on towards the north, skirting this centre of danger at a safe distance until he should be some distance above it.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Now, as he continued his cautious examination of the barrier, he noticed two or three spirals of smoke rising behind the parapet and going straight up into the windless air.
parapetnounUS /ˈperəpet/
a low wall along the edge of a roof or balcony
From this reading Now, as he continued his cautious examination of the barrier, he noticed two or three spirals of smoke rising behind the parapet and going straight up into the windless air.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading He would then work cautiously back towards the citadel, finally seeking some elevated point, such as the roof of a tall building, from which to complete his observations.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading Now, as he continued his cautious examination of the barrier, he noticed two or three spirals of smoke rising behind the parapet and going straight up into the windless air.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading He would then work cautiously back towards the citadel, finally seeking some elevated point, such as the roof of a tall building, from which to complete his observations.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading After some consideration Constans decided that he would continue on towards the north, skirting this centre of danger at a safe distance until he should be some distance above it.
the act of searching for something
From this reading He would then work cautiously back towards the citadel, finally seeking some elevated point, such as the roof of a tall building, from which to complete his observations.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was still early in the morning, and up to this time Constans had not seen sign of man.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading After some consideration Constans decided that he would continue on towards the north, skirting this centre of danger at a safe distance until he should be some distance above it.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading It was still early in the morning, and up to this time Constans had not seen sign of man.
skirtingadjectiveUS /ˈskɜːrtɪŋ/
being all around the edges; enclosing
From this reading After some consideration Constans decided that he would continue on towards the north, skirting this centre of danger at a safe distance until he should be some distance above it.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading Now, as he continued his cautious examination of the barrier, he noticed two or three spirals of smoke rising behind the parapet and going straight up into the windless air.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading After some consideration Constans decided that he would continue on towards the north, skirting this centre of danger at a safe distance until he should be some distance above it.
spiralsnounUS /ˈspaɪrəlz/
plural of “spiral” — a plane curve traced by a point circling about the center but at increasing distances from the center
From this reading Now, as he continued his cautious examination of the barrier, he noticed two or three spirals of smoke rising behind the parapet and going straight up into the windless air.
not in physical motion
From this reading It was still early in the morning, and up to this time Constans had not seen sign of man.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading The hornets were stirring then, and it behooved him to keep well away from their nest.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Now, as he continued his cautious examination of the barrier, he noticed two or three spirals of smoke rising behind the parapet and going straight up into the windless air.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He would then work cautiously back towards the citadel, finally seeking some elevated point, such as the roof of a tall building, from which to complete his observations.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading He would then work cautiously back towards the citadel, finally seeking some elevated point, such as the roof of a tall building, from which to complete his observations.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading After some consideration Constans decided that he would continue on towards the north, skirting this centre of danger at a safe distance until he should be some distance above it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was still early in the morning, and up to this time Constans had not seen sign of man.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The hornets were stirring then, and it behooved him to keep well away from their nest.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The hornets were stirring then, and it behooved him to keep well away from their nest.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was still early in the morning, and up to this time Constans had not seen sign of man.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Now, as he continued his cautious examination of the barrier, he noticed two or three spirals of smoke rising behind the parapet and going straight up into the windless air.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was still early in the morning, and up to this time Constans had not seen sign of man.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was still early in the morning, and up to this time Constans had not seen sign of man.
in the direction of
From this reading After some consideration Constans decided that he would continue on towards the north, skirting this centre of danger at a safe distance until he should be some distance above it.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Now, as he continued his cautious examination of the barrier, he noticed two or three spirals of smoke rising behind the parapet and going straight up into the windless air.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading After some consideration Constans decided that he would continue on towards the north, skirting this centre of danger at a safe distance until he should be some distance above it.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was still early in the morning, and up to this time Constans had not seen sign of man.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was still early in the morning, and up to this time Constans had not seen sign of man.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The hornets were stirring then, and it behooved him to keep well away from their nest.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The hornets were stirring then, and it behooved him to keep well away from their nest.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He would then work cautiously back towards the citadel, finally seeking some elevated point, such as the roof of a tall building, from which to complete his observations.
windlessadjective
without or almost without wind
From this reading Now, as he continued his cautious examination of the barrier, he noticed two or three spirals of smoke rising behind the parapet and going straight up into the windless air.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He would then work cautiously back towards the citadel, finally seeking some elevated point, such as the roof of a tall building, from which to complete his observations.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading After some consideration Constans decided that he would continue on towards the north, skirting this centre of danger at a safe distance until he should be some distance above it.
