adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The gates were almost down now.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Waiting, and waiting alone!
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Waiting, and waiting alone!
blowsnounUS /bloʊz/
plural of “blow” — a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Many grew tired, but others replaced them.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
cursesnounUS /ˈkɜːrsɪz/
plural of “curse” — profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The gates were almost down now.
dozennounUS /ˈdʌzən/
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
ERASMUSnounUS /ɪˈræzməs/
Dutch humanist and theologian who was the leading Renaissance scholar of northern Europe; although his criticisms of the Roman Catholic Church led to the Reformation, he opposed violence and condemned Martin Luther (1466-1536)
From this reading THE HEAD OF ERASMUS.
fasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/
more quickly
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/
start firing a weapon
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
gangnounUS /ɡæŋ/
an association of criminals
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
gatesnounUS /ɡeɪts/
United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)
From this reading The gates were almost down now.
grewverbUS /ɡruː/
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Many grew tired, but others replaced them.
HEADnounUS /hed/
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading THE HEAD OF ERASMUS.
hingenounUS /hɪndʒ/
a joint that holds two parts together so that one can swing relative to the other
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
hotteradjectiveUS /ˈhɑːtər/
comparative of “hot” — used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
ManyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Many grew tired, but others replaced them.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The gates were almost down now.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE HEAD OF ERASMUS.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many grew tired, but others replaced them.
plundernounUS /ˈplʌn.dər/
Goods or treasure taken by force or theft, especially in war or banditry.
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
rainedverbUS /reɪnd/
past form of “rain” — precipitate as rain
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
reinforcedadjectiveUS /ˌriːɪnˈfɔːrst/
given added strength or support
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
replacedverbUS /ˌriːˈpleɪst/
past form of “replace” — substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)
From this reading Many grew tired, but others replaced them.
riftsnounUS /rɪfts/
plural of “rift” — a gap between cloud masses
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
ruffians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
socketnounUS /ˈsɑːkət/
a bony hollow into which a structure fits
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HEAD OF ERASMUS.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Many grew tired, but others replaced them.
threatsnounUS /θrets/
plural of “threat” — something that is a source of danger
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
timbersnounUS /ˈtɪmbərz/
plural of “timber” — the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading Many grew tired, but others replaced them.
unceasinglyadverb
with unflagging resolve
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
volunteersnounUS /ˌvɑːlənˈtɪrz/
plural of “volunteer” — (military) a person who freely enlists for service
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
WaitingnounUS /ˈweɪtɪŋ/
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Waiting, and waiting alone!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The gates were almost down now.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The gang of ruffians without, reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for plunder, rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket; and still hotter and faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and curses.
