alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading There was nothing for them to do but mark time—and watch with alert eyes, ears open, and placid faces.
(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 They were all three wondering that.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was nothing for them to do but mark time—and watch with alert eyes, ears open, and placid faces.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading On and up the procession went to the palace gate, but with every rod they made the distance between the palanquins and the chairs was lengthened.
BritonsnounUS /ˈbrɪtənz/
plural of “briton” — a native or inhabitant of Great Britain
From this reading They all realized it, and realizing it, did it thoroughly, like the Britons they were.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was nothing for them to do but mark time—and watch with alert eyes, ears open, and placid faces.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading On and up the procession went to the palace gate, but with every rod they made the distance between the palanquins and the chairs was lengthened.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading They all realized it, and realizing it, did it thoroughly, like the Britons they were.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading On and up the procession went to the palace gate, but with every rod they made the distance between the palanquins and the chairs was lengthened.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading What were they to do?
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading There was nothing for them to do but mark time—and watch with alert eyes, ears open, and placid faces.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading On and up the procession went to the palace gate, but with every rod they made the distance between the palanquins and the chairs was lengthened.
opinion or judgment
From this reading There was nothing for them to do but mark time—and watch with alert eyes, ears open, and placid faces.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading There was nothing for them to do but mark time—and watch with alert eyes, ears open, and placid faces.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was nothing for them to do but mark time—and watch with alert eyes, ears open, and placid faces.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading On and up the procession went to the palace gate, but with every rod they made the distance between the palanquins and the chairs was lengthened.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They all realized it, and realizing it, did it thoroughly, like the Britons they were.
lengthenedadjectiveUS /ˈleŋθənd/
drawn out or made longer spatially
From this reading On and up the procession went to the palace gate, but with every rod they made the distance between the palanquins and the chairs was lengthened.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading They all realized it, and realizing it, did it thoroughly, like the Britons they were.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading On and up the procession went to the palace gate, but with every rod they made the distance between the palanquins and the chairs was lengthened.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading There was nothing for them to do but mark time—and watch with alert eyes, ears open, and placid faces.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was nothing for them to do but mark time—and watch with alert eyes, ears open, and placid faces.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On and up the procession went to the palace gate, but with every rod they made the distance between the palanquins and the chairs was lengthened.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading There was nothing for them to do but mark time—and watch with alert eyes, ears open, and placid faces.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading On and up the procession went to the palace gate, but with every rod they made the distance between the palanquins and the chairs was lengthened.
palanquins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On and up the procession went to the palace gate, but with every rod they made the distance between the palanquins and the chairs was lengthened.
placidadjectiveUS /ˈplæsəd/
(of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves
From this reading There was nothing for them to do but mark time—and watch with alert eyes, ears open, and placid faces.
processionnounUS /prəˈseʃən/
(theology) the origination of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
From this reading On and up the procession went to the palace gate, but with every rod they made the distance between the palanquins and the chairs was lengthened.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading They all realized it, and realizing it, did it thoroughly, like the Britons they were.
realizingverbUS /ˈriːəlaɪzɪŋ/
-ing form of “realize” — be fully aware or cognizant of
From this reading They all realized it, and realizing it, did it thoroughly, like the Britons they were.
rodnounUS /rɑːd/
a long thin implement made of metal or wood
From this reading On and up the procession went to the palace gate, but with every rod they made the distance between the palanquins and the chairs was lengthened.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They were all three wondering that.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They all realized it, and realizing it, did it thoroughly, like the Britons they were.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There was nothing for them to do but mark time—and watch with alert eyes, ears open, and placid faces.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was nothing for them to do but mark time—and watch with alert eyes, ears open, and placid faces.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading What were they to do?
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading They all realized it, and realizing it, did it thoroughly, like the Britons they were.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading They were all three wondering that.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading There was nothing for them to do but mark time—and watch with alert eyes, ears open, and placid faces.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What were they to do?
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading On and up the procession went to the palace gate, but with every rod they made the distance between the palanquins and the chairs was lengthened.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was nothing for them to do but mark time—and watch with alert eyes, ears open, and placid faces.
look attentively
From this reading There was nothing for them to do but mark time—and watch with alert eyes, ears open, and placid faces.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading On and up the procession went to the palace gate, but with every rod they made the distance between the palanquins and the chairs was lengthened.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading What were they to do?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What were they to do?
in the company of; together with
From this reading There was nothing for them to do but mark time—and watch with alert eyes, ears open, and placid faces.
showing curiosity
From this reading They were all three wondering that.
