adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a very short and simple affair; a mere formality, occupying barely twenty minutes.
affairnounUS /əˈfer/
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading It was a very short and simple affair; a mere formality, occupying barely twenty minutes.
affixedadjectiveUS /əˈfɪkst/
firmly attached
From this reading The indictment was read aloud, the witnesses gave their evidence, and the signatures were affixed to the sentence, which was then read to the condemned man with befitting solemnity.
allowedverbUS /əˈlaʊd/
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading There was, indeed, nothing to spend much time over; no defence was allowed, and the only witnesses were the wounded spy and officer and a few soldiers.
aloudadverbUS /əˈlaʊd/
using the voice; not silently
From this reading The indictment was read aloud, the witnesses gave their evidence, and the signatures were affixed to the sentence, which was then read to the condemned man with befitting solemnity.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a very short and simple affair; a mere formality, occupying barely twenty minutes.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading It was a very short and simple affair; a mere formality, occupying barely twenty minutes.
befittingadjectiveUS /bɪˈfɪtɪŋ/
appropriate to
From this reading The indictment was read aloud, the witnesses gave their evidence, and the signatures were affixed to the sentence, which was then read to the condemned man with befitting solemnity.
beforehandadjectiveUS /bɪˈfɔːrhænd/
being ahead of time or need
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
ColonelnounUS /ˈkɜːrnəl/
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
condemnedverbUS /kənˈdemd/
past form of “condemn” — express strong disapproval of
From this reading The indictment was read aloud, the witnesses gave their evidence, and the signatures were affixed to the sentence, which was then read to the condemned man with befitting solemnity.
consentnounUS /kənˈsent/
permission to do something
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
court-martialnounUS /ˈkɔːrtmɑːrʃəl/
a military court to try members of the armed services who are accused of serious breaches of martial law
From this reading THE court-martial was held on Tuesday morning.
defencenounUS /dɪˈfens/
(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
From this reading There was, indeed, nothing to spend much time over; no defence was allowed, and the only witnesses were the wounded spy and officer and a few soldiers.
desiredadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪərd/
wanted intensely
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
dragoons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
drawnadjectiveUS /drɔːn/
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
evidencenounUS /ˈevədəns/
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading The indictment was read aloud, the witnesses gave their evidence, and the signatures were affixed to the sentence, which was then read to the condemned man with befitting solemnity.
Ferrari
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading There was, indeed, nothing to spend much time over; no defence was allowed, and the only witnesses were the wounded spy and officer and a few soldiers.
formalitynounUS /fɔːrˈmæləti/
a requirement of etiquette or custom
From this reading It was a very short and simple affair; a mere formality, occupying barely twenty minutes.
gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The indictment was read aloud, the witnesses gave their evidence, and the signatures were affixed to the sentence, which was then read to the condemned man with befitting solemnity.
guardsnounUS /ɡɑːrdz/
plural of “guard” — a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
heldadjectiveUS /held/
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading THE court-martial was held on Tuesday morning.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
indeedadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdiːd/
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading There was, indeed, nothing to spend much time over; no defence was allowed, and the only witnesses were the wounded spy and officer and a few soldiers.
indictmentnounUS /ˌɪnˈdaɪtmənt/
a formal document written for a prosecuting attorney charging a person with some offense
From this reading The indictment was read aloud, the witnesses gave their evidence, and the signatures were affixed to the sentence, which was then read to the condemned man with befitting solemnity.
informaladjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfɔːrməl/
not formal
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a very short and simple affair; a mere formality, occupying barely twenty minutes.
judgesnounUS /ˈdʒʌdʒɪz/
a book of the Old Testament that tells the history of Israel under the leaders known as judges
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
localadjectiveUS /ˈloʊkəl/
relating to or applicable to or concerned with the administration of a city or town or district rather than a larger area
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
majoradjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/
of greater importance or stature or rank
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The indictment was read aloud, the witnesses gave their evidence, and the signatures were affixed to the sentence, which was then read to the condemned man with befitting solemnity.
mereadjectiveUS /mɪr/
being nothing more than specified
From this reading It was a very short and simple affair; a mere formality, occupying barely twenty minutes.
minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading It was a very short and simple affair; a mere formality, occupying barely twenty minutes.
Montanelli
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE court-martial was held on Tuesday morning.
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading There was, indeed, nothing to spend much time over; no defence was allowed, and the only witnesses were the wounded spy and officer and a few soldiers.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There was, indeed, nothing to spend much time over; no defence was allowed, and the only witnesses were the wounded spy and officer and a few soldiers.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was, indeed, nothing to spend much time over; no defence was allowed, and the only witnesses were the wounded spy and officer and a few soldiers.
occupyingverbUS /ˈɑːkjəpaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “occupy” — keep busy with
From this reading It was a very short and simple affair; a mere formality, occupying barely twenty minutes.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
officernounUS /ˈɔːfəsər/
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading There was, indeed, nothing to spend much time over; no defence was allowed, and the only witnesses were the wounded spy and officer and a few soldiers.
officersnounUS /ˈɔːfəsərz/
plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE court-martial was held on Tuesday morning.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading There was, indeed, nothing to spend much time over; no defence was allowed, and the only witnesses were the wounded spy and officer and a few soldiers.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading There was, indeed, nothing to spend much time over; no defence was allowed, and the only witnesses were the wounded spy and officer and a few soldiers.
readverbUS /red/
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading The indictment was read aloud, the witnesses gave their evidence, and the signatures were affixed to the sentence, which was then read to the condemned man with befitting solemnity.
sentnounUS /sent/
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
sentencenounUS /ˈsentəns/
a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading It was a very short and simple affair; a mere formality, occupying barely twenty minutes.
signaturesnounUS /ˈsɪɡnətʃərz/
plural of “signature” — your name written in your own handwriting
From this reading The indictment was read aloud, the witnesses gave their evidence, and the signatures were affixed to the sentence, which was then read to the condemned man with befitting solemnity.
simpleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪmpəl/
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading It was a very short and simple affair; a mere formality, occupying barely twenty minutes.
soldiersnounUS /ˈsoʊldʒərz/
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading There was, indeed, nothing to spend much time over; no defence was allowed, and the only witnesses were the wounded spy and officer and a few soldiers.
solemnitynounUS /səˈlemnəti/
a trait of dignified seriousness
From this reading The indictment was read aloud, the witnesses gave their evidence, and the signatures were affixed to the sentence, which was then read to the condemned man with befitting solemnity.
spendverbUS /spend/
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading There was, indeed, nothing to spend much time over; no defence was allowed, and the only witnesses were the wounded spy and officer and a few soldiers.
spyverbUS /spaɪ/
catch sight of
From this reading There was, indeed, nothing to spend much time over; no defence was allowed, and the only witnesses were the wounded spy and officer and a few soldiers.
SwissnounUS /swɪs/
the natives or inhabitants of Switzerland
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE court-martial was held on Tuesday morning.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The indictment was read aloud, the witnesses gave their evidence, and the signatures were affixed to the sentence, which was then read to the condemned man with befitting solemnity.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The indictment was read aloud, the witnesses gave their evidence, and the signatures were affixed to the sentence, which was then read to the condemned man with befitting solemnity.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was, indeed, nothing to spend much time over; no defence was allowed, and the only witnesses were the wounded spy and officer and a few soldiers.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading There was, indeed, nothing to spend much time over; no defence was allowed, and the only witnesses were the wounded spy and officer and a few soldiers.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was, indeed, nothing to spend much time over; no defence was allowed, and the only witnesses were the wounded spy and officer and a few soldiers.
TuesdaynounUS /ˈtuːzdi/
the third day of the week; the second working day
From this reading THE court-martial was held on Tuesday morning.
twentynounUS /ˈtwenti/
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading It was a very short and simple affair; a mere formality, occupying barely twenty minutes.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The sentence was drawn up beforehand; Montanelli had sent in the desired informal consent; and the judges (Colonel Ferrari, the local major of dragoons, and two officers of the Swiss guards) had little to do.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading It was a very short and simple affair; a mere formality, occupying barely twenty minutes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE court-martial was held on Tuesday morning.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There was, indeed, nothing to spend much time over; no defence was allowed, and the only witnesses were the wounded spy and officer and a few soldiers.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The indictment was read aloud, the witnesses gave their evidence, and the signatures were affixed to the sentence, which was then read to the condemned man with befitting solemnity.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The indictment was read aloud, the witnesses gave their evidence, and the signatures were affixed to the sentence, which was then read to the condemned man with befitting solemnity.
witnessesnounUS /ˈwɪtnəsəz/
plural of “witness” — someone who sees an event and reports what happened
From this reading There was, indeed, nothing to spend much time over; no defence was allowed, and the only witnesses were the wounded spy and officer and a few soldiers.
woundednounUS /ˈwuːndɪd/
people who are wounded
From this reading There was, indeed, nothing to spend much time over; no defence was allowed, and the only witnesses were the wounded spy and officer and a few soldiers.
