used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was no laughter now and they spoke scarcely above a whisper.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading There was no laughter now and they spoke scarcely above a whisper.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Almost immediately an arras at the rear of the dais was drawn aside, revealing a warrior of the guard, who sounded a fanfare upon a golden trumpet.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Almost immediately an arras at the rear of the dais was drawn aside, revealing a warrior of the guard, who sounded a fanfare upon a golden trumpet.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was no laughter now and they spoke scarcely above a whisper.
subject to appointment
From this reading It was as though a pall of gloom had enveloped them the instant that they entered the gorgeously appointed chamber.
arrasnoun
a wall hanging of heavy handwoven fabric often with pictorial designs
From this reading Almost immediately an arras at the rear of the dais was drawn aside, revealing a warrior of the guard, who sounded a fanfare upon a golden trumpet.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was as though a pall of gloom had enveloped them the instant that they entered the gorgeously appointed chamber.
on or to one side
From this reading Almost immediately an arras at the rear of the dais was drawn aside, revealing a warrior of the guard, who sounded a fanfare upon a golden trumpet.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Almost immediately an arras at the rear of the dais was drawn aside, revealing a warrior of the guard, who sounded a fanfare upon a golden trumpet.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
banquetnounUS /ˈbæŋkwət/
a ceremonial dinner party for many people
From this reading These banquet guests formed in little groups behind the long table, engaged in low-toned conversation.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading These banquet guests formed in little groups behind the long table, engaged in low-toned conversation.
of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading It was as though a pall of gloom had enveloped them the instant that they entered the gorgeously appointed chamber.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading These banquet guests formed in little groups behind the long table, engaged in low-toned conversation.
daisnounUS /deɪz/
a platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it
From this reading Almost immediately an arras at the rear of the dais was drawn aside, revealing a warrior of the guard, who sounded a fanfare upon a golden trumpet.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Almost immediately an arras at the rear of the dais was drawn aside, revealing a warrior of the guard, who sounded a fanfare upon a golden trumpet.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading These banquet guests formed in little groups behind the long table, engaged in low-toned conversation.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading It was as though a pall of gloom had enveloped them the instant that they entered the gorgeously appointed chamber.
envelopedverbUS /enˈveləpt/
past form of “envelop” — enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering
From this reading It was as though a pall of gloom had enveloped them the instant that they entered the gorgeously appointed chamber.
fanfarenounUS /ˈfænfer/
a gaudy outward display
From this reading Almost immediately an arras at the rear of the dais was drawn aside, revealing a warrior of the guard, who sounded a fanfare upon a golden trumpet.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
foreheadsnounUS /ˈfɔːrhedz/
plural of “forehead” — the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading These banquet guests formed in little groups behind the long table, engaged in low-toned conversation.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading It was as though a pall of gloom had enveloped them the instant that they entered the gorgeously appointed chamber.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading Almost immediately an arras at the rear of the dais was drawn aside, revealing a warrior of the guard, who sounded a fanfare upon a golden trumpet.
gorgeouslyadverb
in an impressively beautiful manner
From this reading It was as though a pall of gloom had enveloped them the instant that they entered the gorgeously appointed chamber.
groupsnounUS /ɡruːps/
plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading These banquet guests formed in little groups behind the long table, engaged in low-toned conversation.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading Almost immediately an arras at the rear of the dais was drawn aside, revealing a warrior of the guard, who sounded a fanfare upon a golden trumpet.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading These banquet guests formed in little groups behind the long table, engaged in low-toned conversation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was as though a pall of gloom had enveloped them the instant that they entered the gorgeously appointed chamber.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Almost immediately an arras at the rear of the dais was drawn aside, revealing a warrior of the guard, who sounded a fanfare upon a golden trumpet.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading These banquet guests formed in little groups behind the long table, engaged in low-toned conversation.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading It was as though a pall of gloom had enveloped them the instant that they entered the gorgeously appointed chamber.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was as though a pall of gloom had enveloped them the instant that they entered the gorgeously appointed chamber.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
kneeled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
immediately past
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
the sound of laughing
From this reading There was no laughter now and they spoke scarcely above a whisper.
LepernounUS /ˈlepər/
a person afflicted with leprosy
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading These banquet guests formed in little groups behind the long table, engaged in low-toned conversation.
Lodidhapura
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
Lodivarman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading These banquet guests formed in little groups behind the long table, engaged in low-toned conversation.
low-tonedadjective
very low in volume
From this reading These banquet guests formed in little groups behind the long table, engaged in low-toned conversation.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no laughter now and they spoke scarcely above a whisper.
a brief written record
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading There was no laughter now and they spoke scarcely above a whisper.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was as though a pall of gloom had enveloped them the instant that they entered the gorgeously appointed chamber.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
pallverbUS /pɑːl/
become less interesting or attractive
From this reading It was as though a pall of gloom had enveloped them the instant that they entered the gorgeously appointed chamber.
pressingnounUS /ˈpresɪŋ/
the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
prostrated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading Almost immediately an arras at the rear of the dais was drawn aside, revealing a warrior of the guard, who sounded a fanfare upon a golden trumpet.
revealingadjectiveUS /rɪˈviːlɪŋ/
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading Almost immediately an arras at the rear of the dais was drawn aside, revealing a warrior of the guard, who sounded a fanfare upon a golden trumpet.
only a very short time before
From this reading There was no laughter now and they spoke scarcely above a whisper.
plural of “slave” — a person who is owned by someone
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading Almost immediately an arras at the rear of the dais was drawn aside, revealing a warrior of the guard, who sounded a fanfare upon a golden trumpet.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading There was no laughter now and they spoke scarcely above a whisper.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading These banquet guests formed in little groups behind the long table, engaged in low-toned conversation.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was as though a pall of gloom had enveloped them the instant that they entered the gorgeously appointed chamber.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading These banquet guests formed in little groups behind the long table, engaged in low-toned conversation.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It was as though a pall of gloom had enveloped them the instant that they entered the gorgeously appointed chamber.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no laughter now and they spoke scarcely above a whisper.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These banquet guests formed in little groups behind the long table, engaged in low-toned conversation.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was no laughter now and they spoke scarcely above a whisper.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It was as though a pall of gloom had enveloped them the instant that they entered the gorgeously appointed chamber.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
trumpetverbUS /ˈtrʌmpət/
proclaim on, or as if on, a trumpet
From this reading Almost immediately an arras at the rear of the dais was drawn aside, revealing a warrior of the guard, who sounded a fanfare upon a golden trumpet.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Almost immediately an arras at the rear of the dais was drawn aside, revealing a warrior of the guard, who sounded a fanfare upon a golden trumpet.
warriornounUS /ˈwɔːriər/
someone engaged in or experienced in warfare
From this reading Almost immediately an arras at the rear of the dais was drawn aside, revealing a warrior of the guard, who sounded a fanfare upon a golden trumpet.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no laughter now and they spoke scarcely above a whisper.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading There was no laughter now and they spoke scarcely above a whisper.
which person or people
From this reading Almost immediately an arras at the rear of the dais was drawn aside, revealing a warrior of the guard, who sounded a fanfare upon a golden trumpet.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As the last note died away, the slaves in the chamber prostrated themselves, pressing their foreheads to the floor, while the guests kneeled with bowed heads; and then Lodivarman, the Leper King of Lodidhapura, came slowly through the opening at the rear of the dais.
