adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 The food, also, was both bad and insufficient; but James soon obtained permission to send him all the necessaries of life from home.
alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/
in addition
From this reading The food, also, was both bad and insufficient; but James soon obtained permission to send him all the necessaries of life from home.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He was kept in solitary confinement, and, though the vigilance of the warders was less strict than he had expected, he failed to obtain any explanation of the cause of his arrest.
arrestverbUS /ərˈest/
take into custody
From this reading He was kept in solitary confinement, and, though the vigilance of the warders was less strict than he had expected, he failed to obtain any explanation of the cause of his arrest.
ARTHURnounUS /ˈɑːrθər/
elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)
From this reading ARTHUR was taken to the huge mediaeval fortress at the harbour's mouth.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading ARTHUR was taken to the huge mediaeval fortress at the harbour's mouth.
badadjectiveUS /bæd/
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading The food, also, was both bad and insufficient; but James soon obtained permission to send him all the necessaries of life from home.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
Borra
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading The food, also, was both bad and insufficient; but James soon obtained permission to send him all the necessaries of life from home.
broughtverbUS /brɔːt/
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
causenounUS /kɑːz/
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading He was kept in solitary confinement, and, though the vigilance of the warders was less strict than he had expected, he failed to obtain any explanation of the cause of his arrest.
cellnounUS /sel/
A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
confinementnounUS /kənˈfaɪnmənt/
concluding state of pregnancy; from the onset of contractions to the birth of a child
From this reading He was kept in solitary confinement, and, though the vigilance of the warders was less strict than he had expected, he failed to obtain any explanation of the cause of his arrest.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
darknounUS /dɑːrk/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
endurableadjective
capable of being borne though unpleasant
From this reading He found prison life fairly endurable.
expectedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspektəd/
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading He was kept in solitary confinement, and, though the vigilance of the warders was less strict than he had expected, he failed to obtain any explanation of the cause of his arrest.
explanationnounUS /ˌekspləˈneɪʃən/
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading He was kept in solitary confinement, and, though the vigilance of the warders was less strict than he had expected, he failed to obtain any explanation of the cause of his arrest.
failedverbUS /feɪld/
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading He was kept in solitary confinement, and, though the vigilance of the warders was less strict than he had expected, he failed to obtain any explanation of the cause of his arrest.
fairlyadverbUS /ˈferli/
to certain extent or degree
From this reading He found prison life fairly endurable.
foodnounUS /fuːd/
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading The food, also, was both bad and insufficient; but James soon obtained permission to send him all the necessaries of life from home.
fortressnounUS /ˈfɔːrtrəs/
a fortified defensive structure
From this reading ARTHUR was taken to the huge mediaeval fortress at the harbour's mouth.
fouladjectiveUS /faʊl/
highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading He found prison life fairly endurable.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The food, also, was both bad and insufficient; but James soon obtained permission to send him all the necessaries of life from home.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
harbour's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ARTHUR was taken to the huge mediaeval fortress at the harbour's mouth.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He found prison life fairly endurable.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
homenounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The food, also, was both bad and insufficient; but James soon obtained permission to send him all the necessaries of life from home.
hugeadjectiveUS /hjuːdʒ/
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading ARTHUR was taken to the huge mediaeval fortress at the harbour's mouth.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
insufficientadjectiveUS /ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənt/
of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement
From this reading The food, also, was both bad and insufficient; but James soon obtained permission to send him all the necessaries of life from home.
JamesnounUS /dʒeɪmz/
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading The food, also, was both bad and insufficient; but James soon obtained permission to send him all the necessaries of life from home.
keptadjectiveUS /kept/
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading He was kept in solitary confinement, and, though the vigilance of the warders was less strict than he had expected, he failed to obtain any explanation of the cause of his arrest.
lessadverbUS /les/
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading He was kept in solitary confinement, and, though the vigilance of the warders was less strict than he had expected, he failed to obtain any explanation of the cause of his arrest.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He found prison life fairly endurable.
mediaevaladjective
relating to or belonging to the Middle Ages
From this reading ARTHUR was taken to the huge mediaeval fortress at the harbour's mouth.
mouthnounUS /maʊθ/
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading ARTHUR was taken to the huge mediaeval fortress at the harbour's mouth.
necessaries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The food, also, was both bad and insufficient; but James soon obtained permission to send him all the necessaries of life from home.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
noveltiesnounUS /ˈnɑːvəltiz/
plural of “novelty” — originality by virtue of being refreshingly novel
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
obtainverbUS /əbˈteɪn/
come into possession of
From this reading He was kept in solitary confinement, and, though the vigilance of the warders was less strict than he had expected, he failed to obtain any explanation of the cause of his arrest.
obtainedverbUS /əbˈteɪnd/
past form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading The food, also, was both bad and insufficient; but James soon obtained permission to send him all the necessaries of life from home.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The food, also, was both bad and insufficient; but James soon obtained permission to send him all the necessaries of life from home.
palacenounUS /ˈpæləs/
a large and stately mansion
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
permissionnounUS /pərˈmɪʃən/
approval to do something
From this reading The food, also, was both bad and insufficient; but James soon obtained permission to send him all the necessaries of life from home.
prisonnounUS /ˈprɪzən/
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading He found prison life fairly endurable.
ratsnounUS /ræts/
plural of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
sendverbUS /send/
cause to go somewhere
From this reading The food, also, was both bad and insufficient; but James soon obtained permission to send him all the necessaries of life from home.
smellsnounUS /smelz/
plural of “smell” — the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
solitaryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləteri/
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading He was kept in solitary confinement, and, though the vigilance of the warders was less strict than he had expected, he failed to obtain any explanation of the cause of his arrest.
soonadverbUS /suːn/
in the near future
From this reading The food, also, was both bad and insufficient; but James soon obtained permission to send him all the necessaries of life from home.
strictadjectiveUS /strɪkt/
rigidly accurate; allowing no deviation from a standard
From this reading He was kept in solitary confinement, and, though the vigilance of the warders was less strict than he had expected, he failed to obtain any explanation of the cause of his arrest.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading ARTHUR was taken to the huge mediaeval fortress at the harbour's mouth.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He was kept in solitary confinement, and, though the vigilance of the warders was less strict than he had expected, he failed to obtain any explanation of the cause of his arrest.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ARTHUR was taken to the huge mediaeval fortress at the harbour's mouth.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He was kept in solitary confinement, and, though the vigilance of the warders was less strict than he had expected, he failed to obtain any explanation of the cause of his arrest.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ARTHUR was taken to the huge mediaeval fortress at the harbour's mouth.
unpleasantlyadverbUS /ənˈplezəntli/
in an unpleasant manner
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
ViaprepositionUS /ˈvaɪə/
by way of; passing through
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
vigilancenounUS /ˈvɪdʒələns/
the process of paying close and continuous attention
From this reading He was kept in solitary confinement, and, though the vigilance of the warders was less strict than he had expected, he failed to obtain any explanation of the cause of his arrest.
wardersnounUS /ˈwɔːrdərz/
plural of “warder” — a person who works in a prison and is in charge of prisoners
From this reading He was kept in solitary confinement, and, though the vigilance of the warders was less strict than he had expected, he failed to obtain any explanation of the cause of his arrest.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ARTHUR was taken to the huge mediaeval fortress at the harbour's mouth.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him.
