adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Before he was answered by his followers, we heard the creaking of the hinges and the rattle of the running chains, ending in a thud that told us the drawbridge had dropped across the moat.
allowedverbUS /əˈlaʊd/
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading Before he was answered by his followers, we heard the creaking of the hinges and the rattle of the running chains, ending in a thud that told us the drawbridge had dropped across the moat.
AVE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AVE CAESAR!
bawlverbUS /bɔːl/
shout loudly and without restraint
From this reading The same doubt may have crossed Ramiro’s mind, for he changed colour and sprang to the door to bawl an order forbidding his men to lower the bridge.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
BorgianounUS /ˈbɔːrdʒə/
Italian pope whose nepotism put the Borgia family in power in Italy (1378-1458)
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
bridgenounUS /brɪdʒ/
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
From this reading The same doubt may have crossed Ramiro’s mind, for he changed colour and sprang to the door to bawl an order forbidding his men to lower the bridge.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he was too late.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
CAESARnounUS /ˈsiːzər/
conqueror of Gaul and master of Italy (100-44 BC)
From this reading AVE CAESAR!
Cesare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
chainsnounUS /tʃeɪnz/
metal shackles; for hands or legs
From this reading Before he was answered by his followers, we heard the creaking of the hinges and the rattle of the running chains, ending in a thud that told us the drawbridge had dropped across the moat.
changedadjectiveUS /tʃeɪndʒd/
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading The same doubt may have crossed Ramiro’s mind, for he changed colour and sprang to the door to bawl an order forbidding his men to lower the bridge.
colouradjectiveUS /ˈkʌlər/
having or capable of producing colors
From this reading The same doubt may have crossed Ramiro’s mind, for he changed colour and sprang to the door to bawl an order forbidding his men to lower the bridge.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
creakingnounUS /ˈkriːkɪŋ/
a squeaking sound
From this reading Before he was answered by his followers, we heard the creaking of the hinges and the rattle of the running chains, ending in a thud that told us the drawbridge had dropped across the moat.
crossedadjectiveUS /krɔːst/
placed crosswise
From this reading The same doubt may have crossed Ramiro’s mind, for he changed colour and sprang to the door to bawl an order forbidding his men to lower the bridge.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The same doubt may have crossed Ramiro’s mind, for he changed colour and sprang to the door to bawl an order forbidding his men to lower the bridge.
doubtnounUS /daʊt/
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading The same doubt may have crossed Ramiro’s mind, for he changed colour and sprang to the door to bawl an order forbidding his men to lower the bridge.
drawbridgenounUS /ˈdrɔːbrɪdʒ/
a bridge that can be raised to block passage or to allow boats or ships to pass beneath it
From this reading Before he was answered by his followers, we heard the creaking of the hinges and the rattle of the running chains, ending in a thud that told us the drawbridge had dropped across the moat.
droppedverbUS /drɑːpt/
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Before he was answered by his followers, we heard the creaking of the hinges and the rattle of the running chains, ending in a thud that told us the drawbridge had dropped across the moat.
eightadjectiveUS /eɪt/
being one more than seven
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
endingnounUS /ˈendɪŋ/
the end of a word (a suffix or inflectional ending or final morpheme)
From this reading Before he was answered by his followers, we heard the creaking of the hinges and the rattle of the running chains, ending in a thud that told us the drawbridge had dropped across the moat.
Faenza
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
fetchedverbUS /fetʃt/
past form of “fetch” — go or come after and bring or take back
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
followersnounUS /ˈfɑːloʊərz/
a group of followers or enthusiasts
From this reading Before he was answered by his followers, we heard the creaking of the hinges and the rattle of the running chains, ending in a thud that told us the drawbridge had dropped across the moat.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
forbiddingadjectiveUS /fərˈbɪdɪŋ/
harshly uninviting or formidable in manner or appearance
From this reading The same doubt may have crossed Ramiro’s mind, for he changed colour and sprang to the door to bawl an order forbidding his men to lower the bridge.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
happenedverbUS /ˈhæpənd/
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The same doubt may have crossed Ramiro’s mind, for he changed colour and sprang to the door to bawl an order forbidding his men to lower the bridge.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Before he was answered by his followers, we heard the creaking of the hinges and the rattle of the running chains, ending in a thud that told us the drawbridge had dropped across the moat.
hereadverbUS /hiːr/
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
hingesnounUS /ˈhɪndʒɪz/
plural of “hinge” — a joint that holds two parts together so that one can swing relative to the other
From this reading Before he was answered by his followers, we heard the creaking of the hinges and the rattle of the running chains, ending in a thud that told us the drawbridge had dropped across the moat.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The same doubt may have crossed Ramiro’s mind, for he changed colour and sprang to the door to bawl an order forbidding his men to lower the bridge.
hopenounUS /hoʊp/
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Before he was answered by his followers, we heard the creaking of the hinges and the rattle of the running chains, ending in a thud that told us the drawbridge had dropped across the moat.
instantnounUS /ˈɪnstənt/
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
lateadjectiveUS /leɪt/
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading But he was too late.
lowerverbUS /ˈloʊər/
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading The same doubt may have crossed Ramiro’s mind, for he changed colour and sprang to the door to bawl an order forbidding his men to lower the bridge.
Mariani
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The same doubt may have crossed Ramiro’s mind, for he changed colour and sprang to the door to bawl an order forbidding his men to lower the bridge.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading The same doubt may have crossed Ramiro’s mind, for he changed colour and sprang to the door to bawl an order forbidding his men to lower the bridge.
mindnounUS /maɪnd/
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The same doubt may have crossed Ramiro’s mind, for he changed colour and sprang to the door to bawl an order forbidding his men to lower the bridge.
miraclenounUS /ˈmɪrəkəl/
any amazing or wonderful occurrence
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
moatnounUS /moʊt/
ditch dug as a fortification and usually filled with water
From this reading Before he was answered by his followers, we heard the creaking of the hinges and the rattle of the running chains, ending in a thud that told us the drawbridge had dropped across the moat.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Before he was answered by his followers, we heard the creaking of the hinges and the rattle of the running chains, ending in a thud that told us the drawbridge had dropped across the moat.
ordernounUS /ˈɔːrdər/
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading The same doubt may have crossed Ramiro’s mind, for he changed colour and sprang to the door to bawl an order forbidding his men to lower the bridge.
possibleadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːsəbəl/
capable of happening or existing
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
Ramiro's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The same doubt may have crossed Ramiro’s mind, for he changed colour and sprang to the door to bawl an order forbidding his men to lower the bridge.
rattleverbUS /ˈrætəl/
make short successive sounds
From this reading Before he was answered by his followers, we heard the creaking of the hinges and the rattle of the running chains, ending in a thud that told us the drawbridge had dropped across the moat.
runningadjectiveUS /ˈrʌnɪŋ/
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading Before he was answered by his followers, we heard the creaking of the hinges and the rattle of the running chains, ending in a thud that told us the drawbridge had dropped across the moat.
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/
Identical; not different.
From this reading The same doubt may have crossed Ramiro’s mind, for he changed colour and sprang to the door to bawl an order forbidding his men to lower the bridge.
sprangverbUS /spræŋ/
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading The same doubt may have crossed Ramiro’s mind, for he changed colour and sprang to the door to bawl an order forbidding his men to lower the bridge.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
thudverbUS /θʌd/
make a dull sound
From this reading Before he was answered by his followers, we heard the creaking of the hinges and the rattle of the running chains, ending in a thud that told us the drawbridge had dropped across the moat.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
toldverbUS /toʊld/
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Before he was answered by his followers, we heard the creaking of the hinges and the rattle of the running chains, ending in a thud that told us the drawbridge had dropped across the moat.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading But he was too late.
torturedadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrtʃərd/
experiencing intense pain especially mental pain
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Before he was answered by his followers, we heard the creaking of the hinges and the rattle of the running chains, ending in a thud that told us the drawbridge had dropped across the moat.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For just an instant I allowed myself to be tortured by the hope that a miracle had happened, and here was Cesare Borgia come a good eight hours before it was possible for Mariani to have fetched him from Faenza.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Before he was answered by his followers, we heard the creaking of the hinges and the rattle of the running chains, ending in a thud that told us the drawbridge had dropped across the moat.
