used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
achieveverbUS /əˈtʃiːv/
to gain with effort
From this reading “Well, citizens,” I said, trying to achieve a smile, “one would have thought you were taking a fortress by assault.”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
assaultnounUS /əˈsɔːlt/
close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
From this reading “Well, citizens,” I said, trying to achieve a smile, “one would have thought you were taking a fortress by assault.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
aughtnounUS /ɔːt/
a quantity of no importance
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
citizensnounUS /ˈsɪtəzənz/
plural of “citizen” — a native or naturalized member of a state or other political community
From this reading “Well, citizens,” I said, trying to achieve a smile, “one would have thought you were taking a fortress by assault.”
profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
dazedadjectiveUS /deɪzd/
in a state of mental numbness especially as resulting from shock
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
DENnounUS /den/
the habitation of wild animals
From this reading THE DRAGON’S DEN.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
DRAGON'SnounUS /ˈdræɡənz/
possessive form of “dragon” — a creature of Teutonic mythology; usually represented as breathing fire and having a reptilian body and sometimes wings
From this reading THE DRAGON’S DEN.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
emergencynounUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi/
a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading “We were set to patrol this road,” explained one of them.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
fortressnounUS /ˈfɔːrtrəs/
a fortified defensive structure
From this reading “Well, citizens,” I said, trying to achieve a smile, “one would have thought you were taking a fortress by assault.”
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
gapingadjectiveUS /ˈɡeɪpɪŋ/
with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Well, citizens,” I said, trying to achieve a smile, “one would have thought you were taking a fortress by assault.”
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
intrudersnounUS /ˌɪnˈtruːdərz/
plural of “intruder” — someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
and nothing more
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
a particular point in time
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
newcomersnounUS /ˈnuːkʌmərz/
plural of “newcomer” — any new participant in some activity
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
on one occasion
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Well, citizens,” I said, trying to achieve a smile, “one would have thought you were taking a fortress by assault.”
overwhelmingadjectiveUS /ˌoʊvərˈwelmɪŋ/
so strong as to be irresistible
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
go across or through
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
patrolnounUS /pəˈtroʊl/
a detachment used for security or reconnaissance
From this reading “We were set to patrol this road,” explained one of them.
a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
participate in games or sport
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
rehearsedverbUS /riˈhɜːrst/
past form of “rehearse” — engage in a rehearsal
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading “We were set to patrol this road,” explained one of them.
move hurridly
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Well, citizens,” I said, trying to achieve a smile, “one would have thought you were taking a fortress by assault.”
semicirclenoun
a plane figure with the shape of half a circle
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading “We were set to patrol this road,” explained one of them.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading “Well, citizens,” I said, trying to achieve a smile, “one would have thought you were taking a fortress by assault.”
stareverbUS /ster/
look at with fixed eyes
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
not in physical motion
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
supremeadjectiveUS /səˈpriːm/
final or last in your life or progress
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading “Well, citizens,” I said, trying to achieve a smile, “one would have thought you were taking a fortress by assault.”
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DRAGON’S DEN.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “Well, citizens,” I said, trying to achieve a smile, “one would have thought you were taking a fortress by assault.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
hard to endure
From this reading “Well, citizens,” I said, trying to achieve a smile, “one would have thought you were taking a fortress by assault.”
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “We were set to patrol this road,” explained one of them.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “Well, citizens,” I said, trying to achieve a smile, “one would have thought you were taking a fortress by assault.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Well, citizens,” I said, trying to achieve a smile, “one would have thought you were taking a fortress by assault.”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE rush of the intruders, sudden and overwhelming, drove me back from the door, but I managed to hold my place, pistol in hand, before my love, too dazed for the moment to do aught but stare at them and curse the fortune which had brought us to this desperate pass.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
witsnounUS /wɪts/
the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception
From this reading But I had a part to play,--a part I had rehearsed more than once for an emergency just such as this,--and I got my wits back by a supreme effort, while the newcomers still stood gaping in a semicircle about us.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Well, citizens,” I said, trying to achieve a smile, “one would have thought you were taking a fortress by assault.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Well, citizens,” I said, trying to achieve a smile, “one would have thought you were taking a fortress by assault.”
