used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The youth himself held in both hands a velvet cushion, upon which were two letters and the keys of the city.
Ambroise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At this sight Henri's countenance assumed an expression of joy and fear curiously blended.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
eagerly desirous
From this reading He thought that he understood the welcome message, but the stern messenger made him anxious.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading "Vicomte d'Exmès!" he muttered, as he saw Gabriel slowly approaching him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
adopted in order to deceive
From this reading At this sight Henri's countenance assumed an expression of joy and fear curiously blended.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At this sight Henri's countenance assumed an expression of joy and fear curiously blended.
playing or singing with instrumental or vocal accompaniment
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
blendedadjectiveUS /ˈblendɪd/
combined or mixed together so that the constituent parts are indistinguishable
From this reading At this sight Henri's countenance assumed an expression of joy and fear curiously blended.
cause to be bored
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
the two together, not just one
From this reading The youth himself held in both hands a velvet cushion, upon which were two letters and the keys of the city.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading The youth himself held in both hands a velvet cushion, upon which were two letters and the keys of the city.
the appearance conveyed by a person's face
From this reading At this sight Henri's countenance assumed an expression of joy and fear curiously blended.
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading At this sight Henri's countenance assumed an expression of joy and fear curiously blended.
cushionnounUS /ˈkʊʃən/
a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses
From this reading The youth himself held in both hands a velvet cushion, upon which were two letters and the keys of the city.
d'Exmès
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Vicomte d'Exmès!" he muttered, as he saw Gabriel slowly approaching him.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading At this sight Henri's countenance assumed an expression of joy and fear curiously blended.
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading At this sight Henri's countenance assumed an expression of joy and fear curiously blended.
flagsnounUS /flæɡz/
plural of “flag” — emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
GabrielnounUS /ˈɡeɪbriəl/
(Bible) the archangel who was the messenger of God
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The youth himself held in both hands a velvet cushion, upon which were two letters and the keys of the city.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The youth himself held in both hands a velvet cushion, upon which were two letters and the keys of the city.
Henri's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this sight Henri's countenance assumed an expression of joy and fear curiously blended.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He thought that he understood the welcome message, but the stern messenger made him anxious.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The youth himself held in both hands a velvet cushion, upon which were two letters and the keys of the city.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The youth himself held in both hands a velvet cushion, upon which were two letters and the keys of the city.
a republic in southern Europe on the Italian Peninsula; was the core of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire between the 4th century BC and the 5th century AD
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading At this sight Henri's countenance assumed an expression of joy and fear curiously blended.
keysnounUS /kiːz/
plural of “key” — metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading The youth himself held in both hands a velvet cushion, upon which were two letters and the keys of the city.
Lactance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
the literary culture
From this reading The youth himself held in both hands a velvet cushion, upon which were two letters and the keys of the city.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He thought that he understood the welcome message, but the stern messenger made him anxious.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading He thought that he understood the welcome message, but the stern messenger made him anxious.
a person who carries a message
From this reading He thought that he understood the welcome message, but the stern messenger made him anxious.
MONTGOMMERY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading "Vicomte d'Exmès!" he muttered, as he saw Gabriel slowly approaching him.
not any; not one
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
Pilletrousse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
cut with a saw
From this reading "Vicomte d'Exmès!" he muttered, as he saw Gabriel slowly approaching him.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading At this sight Henri's countenance assumed an expression of joy and fear curiously blended.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading "Vicomte d'Exmès!" he muttered, as he saw Gabriel slowly approaching him.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading He thought that he understood the welcome message, but the stern messenger made him anxious.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He thought that he understood the welcome message, but the stern messenger made him anxious.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading At this sight Henri's countenance assumed an expression of joy and fear curiously blended.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He thought that he understood the welcome message, but the stern messenger made him anxious.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The youth himself held in both hands a velvet cushion, upon which were two letters and the keys of the city.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading He thought that he understood the welcome message, but the stern messenger made him anxious.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The youth himself held in both hands a velvet cushion, upon which were two letters and the keys of the city.
velvetnounUS /ˈvelvət/
a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
From this reading The youth himself held in both hands a velvet cushion, upon which were two letters and the keys of the city.
VICOMTE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
accept gladly
From this reading He thought that he understood the welcome message, but the stern messenger made him anxious.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The youth himself held in both hands a velvet cushion, upon which were two letters and the keys of the city.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The youth himself held in both hands a velvet cushion, upon which were two letters and the keys of the city.
which person or people
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading The youth himself held in both hands a velvet cushion, upon which were two letters and the keys of the city.
Yvonnet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE VICOMTE DE MONTGOMMERY Gabriel was attended as he had been on his return from Italy by four of his people,--Ambroise, Lactance, Yvonnet, and Pilletrousse,--who bore the English flags; but they came no farther than the threshold.
