used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That was a temporary handicap for the besiegers and one upon which, in all their forethought, they had not calculated.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
advantageousadjectiveUS /ˌædvənˈteɪdʒəs/
giving an advantage
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
(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 That was a temporary handicap for the besiegers and one upon which, in all their forethought, they had not calculated.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Whose figure it was they could not tell, and since they believed their intended victim to be alone they did not question.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
ambushedverbUS /ˈæmbʊʃt/
past form of “ambush” — wait in hiding to attack
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That was a temporary handicap for the besiegers and one upon which, in all their forethought, they had not calculated.
assassinsnounUS /əˈsæsənz/
plural of “assassin” — a murderer (especially one who kills a prominent political figure) who kills by a surprise attack and often is hired to do the deed
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The window through whose broken pane Glory had dispatched her feathered messenger could not be seen into from the exterior.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Whose figure it was they could not tell, and since they believed their intended victim to be alone they did not question.
besiegers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was a temporary handicap for the besiegers and one upon which, in all their forethought, they had not calculated.
blindingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading The window through whose broken pane Glory had dispatched her feathered messenger could not be seen into from the exterior.
calculatedadjectiveUS /ˈkælkjəleɪtɪd/
carefully thought out in advance
From this reading That was a temporary handicap for the besiegers and one upon which, in all their forethought, they had not calculated.
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The window through whose broken pane Glory had dispatched her feathered messenger could not be seen into from the exterior.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Whose figure it was they could not tell, and since they believed their intended victim to be alone they did not question.
dispatchedverbUS /dɪˈspætʃt/
past form of “dispatch” — send away towards a designated goal
From this reading The window through whose broken pane Glory had dispatched her feathered messenger could not be seen into from the exterior.
exteriornounUS /ɪkˈstɪriər/
the region that is outside of something
From this reading The window through whose broken pane Glory had dispatched her feathered messenger could not be seen into from the exterior.
opinion or judgment
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
featheredadjectiveUS /ˈfeðərd/
adorned with feathers or plumes
From this reading The window through whose broken pane Glory had dispatched her feathered messenger could not be seen into from the exterior.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That was a temporary handicap for the besiegers and one upon which, in all their forethought, they had not calculated.
forethoughtnounUS /ˈfɔːrθɔːt/
planning or plotting in advance of acting
From this reading That was a temporary handicap for the besiegers and one upon which, in all their forethought, they had not calculated.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The window through whose broken pane Glory had dispatched her feathered messenger could not be seen into from the exterior.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
a state of high honor
From this reading The window through whose broken pane Glory had dispatched her feathered messenger could not be seen into from the exterior.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The window through whose broken pane Glory had dispatched her feathered messenger could not be seen into from the exterior.
handicapnounUS /ˈhændikæp/
the condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness
From this reading That was a temporary handicap for the besiegers and one upon which, in all their forethought, they had not calculated.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The window through whose broken pane Glory had dispatched her feathered messenger could not be seen into from the exterior.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That was a temporary handicap for the besiegers and one upon which, in all their forethought, they had not calculated.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading Whose figure it was they could not tell, and since they believed their intended victim to be alone they did not question.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The window through whose broken pane Glory had dispatched her feathered messenger could not be seen into from the exterior.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
loosedverbUS /luːst/
past form of “loose” — grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
engage in
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
a person who carries a message
From this reading The window through whose broken pane Glory had dispatched her feathered messenger could not be seen into from the exterior.
in motion
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The window through whose broken pane Glory had dispatched her feathered messenger could not be seen into from the exterior.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading That was a temporary handicap for the besiegers and one upon which, in all their forethought, they had not calculated.
and nothing more
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
panenounUS /peɪn/
sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors
From this reading The window through whose broken pane Glory had dispatched her feathered messenger could not be seen into from the exterior.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
point-blankadjective
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Whose figure it was they could not tell, and since they believed their intended victim to be alone they did not question.
rakedverbUS /reɪkt/
past form of “rake” — move through with or as if with a rake
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
risenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪzən/
(of e.g. celestial bodies) above the horizon
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The window through whose broken pane Glory had dispatched her feathered messenger could not be seen into from the exterior.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Whose figure it was they could not tell, and since they believed their intended victim to be alone they did not question.
slantingadjectiveUS /ˈslæntɪŋ/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
slopesnounUS /sloʊps/
plural of “slope” — an elevated geological formation
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
not in physical motion
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
express in words
From this reading Whose figure it was they could not tell, and since they believed their intended victim to be alone they did not question.
temporaryadjectiveUS /ˈtempəreri/
not permanent; not lasting
From this reading That was a temporary handicap for the besiegers and one upon which, in all their forethought, they had not calculated.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That was a temporary handicap for the besiegers and one upon which, in all their forethought, they had not calculated.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The window through whose broken pane Glory had dispatched her feathered messenger could not be seen into from the exterior.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading That was a temporary handicap for the besiegers and one upon which, in all their forethought, they had not calculated.
in or at that place or location
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That was a temporary handicap for the besiegers and one upon which, in all their forethought, they had not calculated.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The window through whose broken pane Glory had dispatched her feathered messenger could not be seen into from the exterior.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
unbrokenadjectiveUS /ənˈbroʊkən/
marked by continuous or uninterrupted extension in space or time or sequence
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
unidentifiedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnaɪˈdentəfaɪd/
not yet identified
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading That was a temporary handicap for the besiegers and one upon which, in all their forethought, they had not calculated.
the topmost one of two
From this reading It happened that at this hour of the afternoon the slanting sun struck blindingly upon the glass that still remained unbroken and confused the ambushed eyes that raked the place from advantageous points along the upper slopes.
an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance
From this reading Whose figure it was they could not tell, and since they believed their intended victim to be alone they did not question.
vigilantadjectiveUS /ˈvɪdʒələnt/
carefully observant or attentive; on the lookout for possible danger
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
volleynounUS /ˈvɑːli/
rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That was a temporary handicap for the besiegers and one upon which, in all their forethought, they had not calculated.
at the time that
From this reading So when Glory had risen there for an instant, against the window itself, the vigilant assassins had been able to make out only the unidentified shadow of a figure moving there, and upon that figure, at point-blank range, they had loosed their volley.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading That was a temporary handicap for the besiegers and one upon which, in all their forethought, they had not calculated.
belonging to which person
From this reading The window through whose broken pane Glory had dispatched her feathered messenger could not be seen into from the exterior.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading The window through whose broken pane Glory had dispatched her feathered messenger could not be seen into from the exterior.
