used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A FLASH HOUSE IN POMPEII, AND THE GENTLEMEN OF THE CLASSIC RING.
Alsatianoun
a region of northeastern France famous for its wines
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A FLASH HOUSE IN POMPEII, AND THE GENTLEMEN OF THE CLASSIC RING.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
arenanounUS /ərˈiːnə/
a particular environment or walk of life
From this reading Before the threshold was a group of men, whose iron and well-strung muscles, whose short and Herculean necks, whose hardy and reckless countenances, indicated the champions of the arena.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was a large room, that opened at once on the confined and crowded lane.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before the threshold was a group of men, whose iron and well-strung muscles, whose short and Herculean necks, whose hardy and reckless countenances, indicated the champions of the arena.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
championsnounUS /ˈtʃæmpiənz/
plural of “champion” — someone who has won first place in a competition
From this reading Before the threshold was a group of men, whose iron and well-strung muscles, whose short and Herculean necks, whose hardy and reckless countenances, indicated the champions of the arena.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
CLASSICnounUS /ˈklæsɪk/
a creation of the highest excellence
From this reading A FLASH HOUSE IN POMPEII, AND THE GENTLEMEN OF THE CLASSIC RING.
coarseadjectiveUS /kɔːrs/
of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles
From this reading On a shelf, without the shop, were ranged jars of wine and oil; and right over this was inserted in the wall a coarse painting, which exhibited gladiators drinking--so ancient and so venerable is the custom of signs!
confinedadjectiveUS /kənˈfaɪnd/
not invading healthy tissue
From this reading It was a large room, that opened at once on the confined and crowded lane.
countenancesnounUS /ˈkaʊntənənsɪz/
plural of “countenance” — the appearance conveyed by a person's face
From this reading Before the threshold was a group of men, whose iron and well-strung muscles, whose short and Herculean necks, whose hardy and reckless countenances, indicated the champions of the arena.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading It was a large room, that opened at once on the confined and crowded lane.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading On a shelf, without the shop, were ranged jars of wine and oil; and right over this was inserted in the wall a coarse painting, which exhibited gladiators drinking--so ancient and so venerable is the custom of signs!
the act of consuming liquids
From this reading On a shelf, without the shop, were ranged jars of wine and oil; and right over this was inserted in the wall a coarse painting, which exhibited gladiators drinking--so ancient and so venerable is the custom of signs!
exhibitedverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪbətəd/
past form of “exhibit” — show an attribute, property, knowledge, or skill
From this reading On a shelf, without the shop, were ranged jars of wine and oil; and right over this was inserted in the wall a coarse painting, which exhibited gladiators drinking--so ancient and so venerable is the custom of signs!
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading A FLASH HOUSE IN POMPEII, AND THE GENTLEMEN OF THE CLASSIC RING.
plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement
From this reading A FLASH HOUSE IN POMPEII, AND THE GENTLEMEN OF THE CLASSIC RING.
gladiatorsnounUS /ˈɡlædieɪtərz/
plural of “gladiator” — (ancient Rome) a professional combatant or a captive who entertained the public by engaging in mortal combat
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading Before the threshold was a group of men, whose iron and well-strung muscles, whose short and Herculean necks, whose hardy and reckless countenances, indicated the champions of the arena.
hardyadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdi/
having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
From this reading Before the threshold was a group of men, whose iron and well-strung muscles, whose short and Herculean necks, whose hardy and reckless countenances, indicated the champions of the arena.
hauntverbUS /hɔːnt/
follow stealthily or recur constantly and spontaneously to
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
HerculeanadjectiveUS /hərˈkjuːliən/
displaying superhuman strength or power
From this reading Before the threshold was a group of men, whose iron and well-strung muscles, whose short and Herculean necks, whose hardy and reckless countenances, indicated the champions of the arena.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading A FLASH HOUSE IN POMPEII, AND THE GENTLEMEN OF THE CLASSIC RING.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A FLASH HOUSE IN POMPEII, AND THE GENTLEMEN OF THE CLASSIC RING.
indicatedverbUS /ˈɪndəkeɪtəd/
past form of “indicate” — be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading Before the threshold was a group of men, whose iron and well-strung muscles, whose short and Herculean necks, whose hardy and reckless countenances, indicated the champions of the arena.
insertedverbUS /ˌɪnˈsɜːrtəd/
past form of “insert” — put or introduce into something
From this reading On a shelf, without the shop, were ranged jars of wine and oil; and right over this was inserted in the wall a coarse painting, which exhibited gladiators drinking--so ancient and so venerable is the custom of signs!
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading Before the threshold was a group of men, whose iron and well-strung muscles, whose short and Herculean necks, whose hardy and reckless countenances, indicated the champions of the arena.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On a shelf, without the shop, were ranged jars of wine and oil; and right over this was inserted in the wall a coarse painting, which exhibited gladiators drinking--so ancient and so venerable is the custom of signs!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a large room, that opened at once on the confined and crowded lane.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
jarsnounUS /dʒɑːrz/
Wide-mouthed cylindrical containers made of clay or glass, used for storing goods.
From this reading On a shelf, without the shop, were ranged jars of wine and oil; and right over this was inserted in the wall a coarse painting, which exhibited gladiators drinking--so ancient and so venerable is the custom of signs!
a narrow way or road
From this reading It was a large room, that opened at once on the confined and crowded lane.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was a large room, that opened at once on the confined and crowded lane.
plural of “lord” — terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
the force of workers available
From this reading Before the threshold was a group of men, whose iron and well-strung muscles, whose short and Herculean necks, whose hardy and reckless countenances, indicated the champions of the arena.
minionsnounUS /ˈmɪnjənz/
plural of “minion” — a servile or fawning dependant
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
musclesnounUS /ˈmʌsəlz/
plural of “muscle” — one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading Before the threshold was a group of men, whose iron and well-strung muscles, whose short and Herculean necks, whose hardy and reckless countenances, indicated the champions of the arena.
necksnounUS /neks/
plural of “neck” — the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading Before the threshold was a group of men, whose iron and well-strung muscles, whose short and Herculean necks, whose hardy and reckless countenances, indicated the champions of the arena.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
obsceneadjectiveUS /ɑːbˈsiːn/
designed to incite to indecency or lust
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A FLASH HOUSE IN POMPEII, AND THE GENTLEMEN OF THE CLASSIC RING.
oilnounUS /ɔɪl/
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading On a shelf, without the shop, were ranged jars of wine and oil; and right over this was inserted in the wall a coarse painting, which exhibited gladiators drinking--so ancient and so venerable is the custom of signs!
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was a large room, that opened at once on the confined and crowded lane.
on one occasion
From this reading It was a large room, that opened at once on the confined and crowded lane.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading It was a large room, that opened at once on the confined and crowded lane.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading On a shelf, without the shop, were ranged jars of wine and oil; and right over this was inserted in the wall a coarse painting, which exhibited gladiators drinking--so ancient and so venerable is the custom of signs!
paintingnounUS /ˈpeɪntɪŋ/
graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface
From this reading On a shelf, without the shop, were ranged jars of wine and oil; and right over this was inserted in the wall a coarse painting, which exhibited gladiators drinking--so ancient and so venerable is the custom of signs!
the local environment
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
pennilessadjectiveUS /ˈpeniləs/
not having enough money to pay for necessities
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
POMPEIInoun
ancient city to the southeast of Naples that was buried by a volcanic eruption from Vesuvius
From this reading A FLASH HOUSE IN POMPEII, AND THE GENTLEMEN OF THE CLASSIC RING.
prize-fighters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
rangedverbUS /reɪndʒd/
past form of “range” — change or be different within limits
From this reading On a shelf, without the shop, were ranged jars of wine and oil; and right over this was inserted in the wall a coarse painting, which exhibited gladiators drinking--so ancient and so venerable is the custom of signs!
recklessadjectiveUS /ˈrekləs/
marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences
From this reading Before the threshold was a group of men, whose iron and well-strung muscles, whose short and Herculean necks, whose hardy and reckless countenances, indicated the champions of the arena.
precisely, exactly
From this reading On a shelf, without the shop, were ranged jars of wine and oil; and right over this was inserted in the wall a coarse painting, which exhibited gladiators drinking--so ancient and so venerable is the custom of signs!
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading A FLASH HOUSE IN POMPEII, AND THE GENTLEMEN OF THE CLASSIC RING.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading It was a large room, that opened at once on the confined and crowded lane.
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
shelfnounUS /ʃelf/
A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.
From this reading On a shelf, without the shop, were ranged jars of wine and oil; and right over this was inserted in the wall a coarse painting, which exhibited gladiators drinking--so ancient and so venerable is the custom of signs!
do one's shopping
From this reading On a shelf, without the shop, were ranged jars of wine and oil; and right over this was inserted in the wall a coarse painting, which exhibited gladiators drinking--so ancient and so venerable is the custom of signs!
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Before the threshold was a group of men, whose iron and well-strung muscles, whose short and Herculean necks, whose hardy and reckless countenances, indicated the champions of the arena.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading On a shelf, without the shop, were ranged jars of wine and oil; and right over this was inserted in the wall a coarse painting, which exhibited gladiators drinking--so ancient and so venerable is the custom of signs!
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading On a shelf, without the shop, were ranged jars of wine and oil; and right over this was inserted in the wall a coarse painting, which exhibited gladiators drinking--so ancient and so venerable is the custom of signs!
tenantedadjective
resided in; having tenants
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was a large room, that opened at once on the confined and crowded lane.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A FLASH HOUSE IN POMPEII, AND THE GENTLEMEN OF THE CLASSIC RING.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading On a shelf, without the shop, were ranged jars of wine and oil; and right over this was inserted in the wall a coarse painting, which exhibited gladiators drinking--so ancient and so venerable is the custom of signs!
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading Before the threshold was a group of men, whose iron and well-strung muscles, whose short and Herculean necks, whose hardy and reckless countenances, indicated the champions of the arena.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
transportedverbUS /trænˈspɔːrtɪd/
past form of “transport” — move something or somebody around; usually over long distances
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
venerableadjectiveUS /ˈvenərəbəl/
impressive by reason of age
From this reading On a shelf, without the shop, were ranged jars of wine and oil; and right over this was inserted in the wall a coarse painting, which exhibited gladiators drinking--so ancient and so venerable is the custom of signs!
viciousadjectiveUS /ˈvɪʃəs/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
victimsnounUS /ˈvɪktəmz/
plural of “victim” — an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading On a shelf, without the shop, were ranged jars of wine and oil; and right over this was inserted in the wall a coarse painting, which exhibited gladiators drinking--so ancient and so venerable is the custom of signs!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a large room, that opened at once on the confined and crowded lane.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
well-strung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the threshold was a group of men, whose iron and well-strung muscles, whose short and Herculean necks, whose hardy and reckless countenances, indicated the champions of the arena.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading TO one of those parts of Pompeii, which were tenanted not by the lords of pleasure, but by its minions and its victims; the haunt of gladiators and prize-fighters; of the vicious and the penniless; of the savage and the obscene; the Alsatia of an ancient city--we are now transported.
belonging to which person
From this reading Before the threshold was a group of men, whose iron and well-strung muscles, whose short and Herculean necks, whose hardy and reckless countenances, indicated the champions of the arena.
fermented juice (of grapes especially)
From this reading On a shelf, without the shop, were ranged jars of wine and oil; and right over this was inserted in the wall a coarse painting, which exhibited gladiators drinking--so ancient and so venerable is the custom of signs!
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading On a shelf, without the shop, were ranged jars of wine and oil; and right over this was inserted in the wall a coarse painting, which exhibited gladiators drinking--so ancient and so venerable is the custom of signs!
