used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A PROMISE KEPT The room in which John was confined contained only a bed, a chair and a table.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Now the soldiers in the grounds were moving but little, and the air pulsed with the thud of the great guns.
in addition
From this reading He also heard the distant mutter of the cannon, which seemed now to have become a part of nature.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading There were periods of excitement or of mental detachment, when he did not notice it, but it was always there.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A PROMISE KEPT The room in which John was confined contained only a bed, a chair and a table.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading He also heard the distant mutter of the cannon, which seemed now to have become a part of nature.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading A PROMISE KEPT The room in which John was confined contained only a bed, a chair and a table.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading It was lighted by a single window, from which he could see numerous soldiers below.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There were periods of excitement or of mental detachment, when he did not notice it, but it was always there.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was lighted by a single window, from which he could see numerous soldiers below.
cannonnounUS /ˈkænən/
a large artillery gun that is usually on wheels
From this reading He also heard the distant mutter of the cannon, which seemed now to have become a part of nature.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading A PROMISE KEPT The room in which John was confined contained only a bed, a chair and a table.
confinedadjectiveUS /kənˈfaɪnd/
not invading healthy tissue
From this reading A PROMISE KEPT The room in which John was confined contained only a bed, a chair and a table.
gotten under control
From this reading A PROMISE KEPT The room in which John was confined contained only a bed, a chair and a table.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was lighted by a single window, from which he could see numerous soldiers below.
detachmentnounUS /dɪˈtætʃmənt/
avoiding emotional involvement
From this reading There were periods of excitement or of mental detachment, when he did not notice it, but it was always there.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading There were periods of excitement or of mental detachment, when he did not notice it, but it was always there.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading He also heard the distant mutter of the cannon, which seemed now to have become a part of nature.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading There were periods of excitement or of mental detachment, when he did not notice it, but it was always there.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was lighted by a single window, from which he could see numerous soldiers below.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Now the soldiers in the grounds were moving but little, and the air pulsed with the thud of the great guns.
groundsnounUS /ɡraʊndz/
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading Now the soldiers in the grounds were moving but little, and the air pulsed with the thud of the great guns.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Now the soldiers in the grounds were moving but little, and the air pulsed with the thud of the great guns.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He also heard the distant mutter of the cannon, which seemed now to have become a part of nature.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was lighted by a single window, from which he could see numerous soldiers below.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading He also heard the distant mutter of the cannon, which seemed now to have become a part of nature.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A PROMISE KEPT The room in which John was confined contained only a bed, a chair and a table.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was lighted by a single window, from which he could see numerous soldiers below.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading A PROMISE KEPT The room in which John was confined contained only a bed, a chair and a table.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading A PROMISE KEPT The room in which John was confined contained only a bed, a chair and a table.
set afire or burning
From this reading It was lighted by a single window, from which he could see numerous soldiers below.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Now the soldiers in the grounds were moving but little, and the air pulsed with the thud of the great guns.
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading There were periods of excitement or of mental detachment, when he did not notice it, but it was always there.
in motion
From this reading Now the soldiers in the grounds were moving but little, and the air pulsed with the thud of the great guns.
mutterverbUS /ˈmʌtər/
talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading He also heard the distant mutter of the cannon, which seemed now to have become a part of nature.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading He also heard the distant mutter of the cannon, which seemed now to have become a part of nature.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There were periods of excitement or of mental detachment, when he did not notice it, but it was always there.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading There were periods of excitement or of mental detachment, when he did not notice it, but it was always there.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He also heard the distant mutter of the cannon, which seemed now to have become a part of nature.
amounting to a large indefinite number
From this reading It was lighted by a single window, from which he could see numerous soldiers below.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He also heard the distant mutter of the cannon, which seemed now to have become a part of nature.
and nothing more
From this reading A PROMISE KEPT The room in which John was confined contained only a bed, a chair and a table.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There were periods of excitement or of mental detachment, when he did not notice it, but it was always there.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading He also heard the distant mutter of the cannon, which seemed now to have become a part of nature.
periodsnounUS /ˈpɪriədz/
plural of “period” — an amount of time
From this reading There were periods of excitement or of mental detachment, when he did not notice it, but it was always there.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading A PROMISE KEPT The room in which John was confined contained only a bed, a chair and a table.
pulsedverbUS /pʌlst/
past form of “pulse” — expand and contract rhythmically; beat rhythmically
From this reading Now the soldiers in the grounds were moving but little, and the air pulsed with the thud of the great guns.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A PROMISE KEPT The room in which John was confined contained only a bed, a chair and a table.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was lighted by a single window, from which he could see numerous soldiers below.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He also heard the distant mutter of the cannon, which seemed now to have become a part of nature.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading It was lighted by a single window, from which he could see numerous soldiers below.
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading It was lighted by a single window, from which he could see numerous soldiers below.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading A PROMISE KEPT The room in which John was confined contained only a bed, a chair and a table.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A PROMISE KEPT The room in which John was confined contained only a bed, a chair and a table.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were periods of excitement or of mental detachment, when he did not notice it, but it was always there.
thudverbUS /θʌd/
make a dull sound
From this reading Now the soldiers in the grounds were moving but little, and the air pulsed with the thud of the great guns.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He also heard the distant mutter of the cannon, which seemed now to have become a part of nature.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A PROMISE KEPT The room in which John was confined contained only a bed, a chair and a table.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were periods of excitement or of mental detachment, when he did not notice it, but it was always there.
at the time that
From this reading There were periods of excitement or of mental detachment, when he did not notice it, but it was always there.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A PROMISE KEPT The room in which John was confined contained only a bed, a chair and a table.
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 It was lighted by a single window, from which he could see numerous soldiers below.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Now the soldiers in the grounds were moving but little, and the air pulsed with the thud of the great guns.
