used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For an instant there was a horrible mêlée hand to hand; then the Indians fell back to draw breath, and begin again.
anew
From this reading For an instant there was a horrible mêlée hand to hand; then the Indians fell back to draw breath, and begin again.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For an instant there was a horrible mêlée hand to hand; then the Indians fell back to draw breath, and begin again.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Count and his two companions, as we have seen, bravely awaited the attack of the Indians; it was terrible.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Count and his two companions, as we have seen, bravely awaited the attack of the Indians; it was terrible.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Ten corpses lay at the feet of the three men, who were motionless and firm as a block of granite.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading The Count and his two companions, as we have seen, bravely awaited the attack of the Indians; it was terrible.
awaitedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪtɪd/
expected hopefully
From this reading The Count and his two companions, as we have seen, bravely awaited the attack of the Indians; it was terrible.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "By heavens!" the Count said, as he wiped away, with the back of his hand, the perspiration mingled with blood that stood in large beads on his forehead, "it is a glorious fight."
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading For an instant there was a horrible mêlée hand to hand; then the Indians fell back to draw breath, and begin again.
beadsnounUS /biːdz/
several beads threaded together on a string
From this reading "By heavens!" the Count said, as he wiped away, with the back of his hand, the perspiration mingled with blood that stood in large beads on his forehead, "it is a glorious fight."
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading For an instant there was a horrible mêlée hand to hand; then the Indians fell back to draw breath, and begin again.
blocknounUS /blɑːk/
a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading Ten corpses lay at the feet of the three men, who were motionless and firm as a block of granite.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading "By heavens!" the Count said, as he wiped away, with the back of his hand, the perspiration mingled with blood that stood in large beads on his forehead, "it is a glorious fight."
bravelyadverbUS /ˈbreɪvli/
in a courageous manner
From this reading The Count and his two companions, as we have seen, bravely awaited the attack of the Indians; it was terrible.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading For an instant there was a horrible mêlée hand to hand; then the Indians fell back to draw breath, and begin again.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "By heavens!" the Count said, as he wiped away, with the back of his hand, the perspiration mingled with blood that stood in large beads on his forehead, "it is a glorious fight."
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading The Count and his two companions, as we have seen, bravely awaited the attack of the Indians; it was terrible.
corpsesnounUS /ˈkɔːrpsəz/
plural of “corps” — an army unit usually consisting of two or more divisions and their support
From this reading Ten corpses lay at the feet of the three men, who were motionless and firm as a block of granite.
determine the number or amount of
From this reading The Count and his two companions, as we have seen, bravely awaited the attack of the Indians; it was terrible.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading For an instant there was a horrible mêlée hand to hand; then the Indians fell back to draw breath, and begin again.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Ten corpses lay at the feet of the three men, who were motionless and firm as a block of granite.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading For an instant there was a horrible mêlée hand to hand; then the Indians fell back to draw breath, and begin again.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading "By heavens!" the Count said, as he wiped away, with the back of his hand, the perspiration mingled with blood that stood in large beads on his forehead, "it is a glorious fight."
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading Ten corpses lay at the feet of the three men, who were motionless and firm as a block of granite.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For an instant there was a horrible mêlée hand to hand; then the Indians fell back to draw breath, and begin again.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading "By heavens!" the Count said, as he wiped away, with the back of his hand, the perspiration mingled with blood that stood in large beads on his forehead, "it is a glorious fight."
having or deserving or conferring glory
From this reading "By heavens!" the Count said, as he wiped away, with the back of his hand, the perspiration mingled with blood that stood in large beads on his forehead, "it is a glorious fight."
granitenounUS /ˈɡrænət/
plutonic igneous rock having visibly crystalline texture; generally composed of feldspar and mica and quartz
From this reading Ten corpses lay at the feet of the three men, who were motionless and firm as a block of granite.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading For an instant there was a horrible mêlée hand to hand; then the Indians fell back to draw breath, and begin again.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The Count and his two companions, as we have seen, bravely awaited the attack of the Indians; it was terrible.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "By heavens!" the Count said, as he wiped away, with the back of his hand, the perspiration mingled with blood that stood in large beads on his forehead, "it is a glorious fight."
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading "By heavens!" the Count said, as he wiped away, with the back of his hand, the perspiration mingled with blood that stood in large beads on his forehead, "it is a glorious fight."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Count and his two companions, as we have seen, bravely awaited the attack of the Indians; it was terrible.
provoking horror
From this reading For an instant there was a horrible mêlée hand to hand; then the Indians fell back to draw breath, and begin again.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "By heavens!" the Count said, as he wiped away, with the back of his hand, the perspiration mingled with blood that stood in large beads on his forehead, "it is a glorious fight."
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading The Count and his two companions, as we have seen, bravely awaited the attack of the Indians; it was terrible.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading For an instant there was a horrible mêlée hand to hand; then the Indians fell back to draw breath, and begin again.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "By heavens!" the Count said, as he wiped away, with the back of his hand, the perspiration mingled with blood that stood in large beads on his forehead, "it is a glorious fight."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Count and his two companions, as we have seen, bravely awaited the attack of the Indians; it was terrible.
IVON
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IVON.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "By heavens!" the Count said, as he wiped away, with the back of his hand, the perspiration mingled with blood that stood in large beads on his forehead, "it is a glorious fight."
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Ten corpses lay at the feet of the three men, who were motionless and firm as a block of granite.
the force of workers available
From this reading Ten corpses lay at the feet of the three men, who were motionless and firm as a block of granite.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading "By heavens!" the Count said, as he wiped away, with the back of his hand, the perspiration mingled with blood that stood in large beads on his forehead, "it is a glorious fight."
not in physical motion
From this reading Ten corpses lay at the feet of the three men, who were motionless and firm as a block of granite.
mêlée
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an instant there was a horrible mêlée hand to hand; then the Indians fell back to draw breath, and begin again.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Count and his two companions, as we have seen, bravely awaited the attack of the Indians; it was terrible.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "By heavens!" the Count said, as he wiped away, with the back of his hand, the perspiration mingled with blood that stood in large beads on his forehead, "it is a glorious fight."
perspirationnounUS /ˌpɜːrspərˈeɪʃən/
salty fluid secreted by sweat glands
From this reading "By heavens!" the Count said, as he wiped away, with the back of his hand, the perspiration mingled with blood that stood in large beads on his forehead, "it is a glorious fight."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "By heavens!" the Count said, as he wiped away, with the back of his hand, the perspiration mingled with blood that stood in large beads on his forehead, "it is a glorious fight."
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The Count and his two companions, as we have seen, bravely awaited the attack of the Indians; it was terrible.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading "By heavens!" the Count said, as he wiped away, with the back of his hand, the perspiration mingled with blood that stood in large beads on his forehead, "it is a glorious fight."
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Ten corpses lay at the feet of the three men, who were motionless and firm as a block of granite.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading The Count and his two companions, as we have seen, bravely awaited the attack of the Indians; it was terrible.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "By heavens!" the Count said, as he wiped away, with the back of his hand, the perspiration mingled with blood that stood in large beads on his forehead, "it is a glorious fight."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Count and his two companions, as we have seen, bravely awaited the attack of the Indians; it was terrible.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading For an instant there was a horrible mêlée hand to hand; then the Indians fell back to draw breath, and begin again.
in or at that place or location
From this reading For an instant there was a horrible mêlée hand to hand; then the Indians fell back to draw breath, and begin again.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Ten corpses lay at the feet of the three men, who were motionless and firm as a block of granite.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For an instant there was a horrible mêlée hand to hand; then the Indians fell back to draw breath, and begin again.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The Count and his two companions, as we have seen, bravely awaited the attack of the Indians; it was terrible.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Count and his two companions, as we have seen, bravely awaited the attack of the Indians; it was terrible.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The Count and his two companions, as we have seen, bravely awaited the attack of the Indians; it was terrible.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Ten corpses lay at the feet of the three men, who were motionless and firm as a block of granite.
which person or people
From this reading Ten corpses lay at the feet of the three men, who were motionless and firm as a block of granite.
wipedverbUS /waɪpt/
past form of “wipe” — rub with a circular motion
From this reading "By heavens!" the Count said, as he wiped away, with the back of his hand, the perspiration mingled with blood that stood in large beads on his forehead, "it is a glorious fight."
in the company of; together with
From this reading "By heavens!" the Count said, as he wiped away, with the back of his hand, the perspiration mingled with blood that stood in large beads on his forehead, "it is a glorious fight."
