used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Well--what now?" demanded Arroyo, in an ill-humoured tone.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading There our men--the greater number of them at least--have been besieging it for three days without any result.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "What nest of vipers are you speaking of?"
ArroyonounUS /ərˈɔɪoʊ/
a stream or brook
From this reading "Well--what now?" demanded Arroyo, in an ill-humoured tone.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There our men--the greater number of them at least--have been besieging it for three days without any result.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "The hacienda Del Valle--what other should it be?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There our men--the greater number of them at least--have been besieging it for three days without any result.
besiegingnounUS /bɪˈsiːdʒɪŋ/
the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack
From this reading There our men--the greater number of them at least--have been besieging it for three days without any result.
Bocardo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
the two together, not just one
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
castingnounUS /ˈkæstɪŋ/
object formed by a mold
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading There our men--the greater number of them at least--have been besieging it for three days without any result.
argue or speak in defense of
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
Del
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The hacienda Del Valle--what other should it be?
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading "Well--what now?" demanded Arroyo, in an ill-humoured tone.
despisedadjectiveUS /dɪˈspaɪzd/
treated with dislike or contempt
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There our men--the greater number of them at least--have been besieging it for three days without any result.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading There our men--the greater number of them at least--have been besieging it for three days without any result.
haciendanounUS /ˌhæsiˈendə/
a large estate in Spanish-speaking countries
From this reading "The hacienda Del Valle--what other should it be?
hatedadjectiveUS /ˈheɪtəd/
treated with dislike or contempt
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
ill-humouredadjective
brusque and surly and forbidding
From this reading "Well--what now?" demanded Arroyo, in an ill-humoured tone.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Well--what now?" demanded Arroyo, in an ill-humoured tone.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading There our men--the greater number of them at least--have been besieging it for three days without any result.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
the force of workers available
From this reading There our men--the greater number of them at least--have been besieging it for three days without any result.
nestnounUS /nest/
a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Well--what now?" demanded Arroyo, in an ill-humoured tone.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading There our men--the greater number of them at least--have been besieging it for three days without any result.
profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading "The hacienda Del Valle--what other should it be?
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading There our men--the greater number of them at least--have been besieging it for three days without any result.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading There our men--the greater number of them at least--have been besieging it for three days without any result.
a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of inadequacy or guilt
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading "What nest of vipers are you speaking of?"
not in physical motion
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There our men--the greater number of them at least--have been besieging it for three days without any result.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading There our men--the greater number of them at least--have been besieging it for three days without any result.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading "Well--what now?" demanded Arroyo, in an ill-humoured tone.
Valle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The hacienda Del Valle--what other should it be?
vipersnounUS /ˈvaɪpərz/
plural of “viper” — venomous Old World snakes characterized by hollow venom-conducting fangs in the upper jaw
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
(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--what now?" demanded Arroyo, in an ill-humoured tone.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Well--what now?" demanded Arroyo, in an ill-humoured tone.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading There our men--the greater number of them at least--have been besieging it for three days without any result.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "A shame on you!" cried she, casting on Bocardo, whom she both hated and despised, the angry look she feared to give her husband, "a shame on you, that after the oath you have taken, there should still remain a stone of this nest of vipers, or a man to defend it!"
