used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Indeed for weeks, so far as any subsequent memory was concerned, he remained quite unconscious.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Indeed for weeks, so far as any subsequent memory was concerned, he remained quite unconscious.
have
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Here placed by the waters, beneath the shade of palms and near to the towering pylons of the ruined temple, stood the town, Tama, over which by right of descent the lady Mea held her rule.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
cause to be bored
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Here placed by the waters, beneath the shade of palms and near to the towering pylons of the ruined temple, stood the town, Tama, over which by right of descent the lady Mea held her rule.
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading Indeed for weeks, so far as any subsequent memory was concerned, he remained quite unconscious.
corpsesnounUS /ˈkɔːrpsəz/
plural of “corps” — an army unit usually consisting of two or more divisions and their support
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
descentnounUS /dɪˈsent/
An action of moving downward, dropping, or falling into a deeper place.
From this reading Here placed by the waters, beneath the shade of palms and near to the towering pylons of the ruined temple, stood the town, Tama, over which by right of descent the lady Mea held her rule.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
destinedadjectiveUS /ˈdestɪnd/
headed or intending to head in a certain direction; often used as a combining form as in “college-bound students”
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
dwindledverbUS /ˈdwɪndəld/
past form of “dwindle” — become smaller or lose substance
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Indeed for weeks, so far as any subsequent memory was concerned, he remained quite unconscious.
people in general (often used in the plural)
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
hatingverbUS /ˈheɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “hate” — dislike intensely; feel antipathy or aversion towards
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Indeed for weeks, so far as any subsequent memory was concerned, he remained quite unconscious.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Here placed by the waters, beneath the shade of palms and near to the towering pylons of the ruined temple, stood the town, Tama, over which by right of descent the lady Mea held her rule.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Here placed by the waters, beneath the shade of palms and near to the towering pylons of the ruined temple, stood the town, Tama, over which by right of descent the lady Mea held her rule.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here placed by the waters, beneath the shade of palms and near to the towering pylons of the ruined temple, stood the town, Tama, over which by right of descent the lady Mea held her rule.
not accessible to view
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
ten 10s
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed for weeks, so far as any subsequent memory was concerned, he remained quite unconscious.
intermarryverbUS /ˌɪntərˈmæri/
marry within the same ethnic, social, or family group
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Here placed by the waters, beneath the shade of palms and near to the towering pylons of the ruined temple, stood the town, Tama, over which by right of descent the lady Mea held her rule.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
immediately past
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
litternounUS /ˈlɪtər/
the offspring at one birth of a multiparous mammal
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
MEA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading Indeed for weeks, so far as any subsequent memory was concerned, he remained quite unconscious.
the force of workers available
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Here placed by the waters, beneath the shade of palms and near to the towering pylons of the ruined temple, stood the town, Tama, over which by right of descent the lady Mea held her rule.
not any; not one
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
numberingnounUS /ˈnʌmbərɪŋ/
a numbered list
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
oasisnounUS /oʊˈeɪsɪs/
a fertile tract in a desert (where the water table approaches the surface)
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Here placed by the waters, beneath the shade of palms and near to the towering pylons of the ruined temple, stood the town, Tama, over which by right of descent the lady Mea held her rule.
palmsnounUS /pɑːmz/
plural of “palm” — the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading Here placed by the waters, beneath the shade of palms and near to the towering pylons of the ruined temple, stood the town, Tama, over which by right of descent the lady Mea held her rule.
go across or through
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading Here placed by the waters, beneath the shade of palms and near to the towering pylons of the ruined temple, stood the town, Tama, over which by right of descent the lady Mea held her rule.
PROPOSALnounUS /prəˈpoʊzəl/
something proposed (such as a plan or assumption)
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
pylonsnounUS /ˈpaɪlɑːnz/
plural of “pylon” — a tower for guiding pilots or marking the turning point in a race
From this reading Here placed by the waters, beneath the shade of palms and near to the towering pylons of the ruined temple, stood the town, Tama, over which by right of descent the lady Mea held her rule.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Indeed for weeks, so far as any subsequent memory was concerned, he remained quite unconscious.
any competition
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Indeed for weeks, so far as any subsequent memory was concerned, he remained quite unconscious.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Here placed by the waters, beneath the shade of palms and near to the towering pylons of the ruined temple, stood the town, Tama, over which by right of descent the lady Mea held her rule.
destroyed physically or morally
From this reading Here placed by the waters, beneath the shade of palms and near to the towering pylons of the ruined temple, stood the town, Tama, over which by right of descent the lady Mea held her rule.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading Here placed by the waters, beneath the shade of palms and near to the towering pylons of the ruined temple, stood the town, Tama, over which by right of descent the lady Mea held her rule.
RupertnounUS /ˈruːpərt/
English leader (born in Germany) of the Royalist forces during the English Civil War (1619-1682)
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
sentinelsnounUS /ˈsentənəlz/
plural of “sentinel” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading Here placed by the waters, beneath the shade of palms and near to the towering pylons of the ruined temple, stood the town, Tama, over which by right of descent the lady Mea held her rule.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Indeed for weeks, so far as any subsequent memory was concerned, he remained quite unconscious.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
subsequentadjectiveUS /ˈsʌbsəkwənt/
following in time or order
From this reading Indeed for weeks, so far as any subsequent memory was concerned, he remained quite unconscious.
Tama
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here placed by the waters, beneath the shade of palms and near to the towering pylons of the ruined temple, stood the town, Tama, over which by right of descent the lady Mea held her rule.
place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity
From this reading Here placed by the waters, beneath the shade of palms and near to the towering pylons of the ruined temple, stood the town, Tama, over which by right of descent the lady Mea held her rule.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
thornnounUS /θɔːrn/
something that causes irritation and annoyance
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
tormentorsnounUS /ˈtɔːrmentərz/
plural of “tormentor” — someone who torments
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
toweringadjectiveUS /ˈtaʊərɪŋ/
of imposing height; especially standing out above others
From this reading Here placed by the waters, beneath the shade of palms and near to the towering pylons of the ruined temple, stood the town, Tama, over which by right of descent the lady Mea held her rule.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Here placed by the waters, beneath the shade of palms and near to the towering pylons of the ruined temple, stood the town, Tama, over which by right of descent the lady Mea held her rule.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
tribenounUS /traɪb/
a social division of (usually preliterate) people
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead
From this reading Indeed for weeks, so far as any subsequent memory was concerned, he remained quite unconscious.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading MEA MAKES A PROPOSAL That sight of the corpses of his tormentors hanging to the thorn trees was the last that Rupert was destined to see for many a day.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading Here placed by the waters, beneath the shade of palms and near to the towering pylons of the ruined temple, stood the town, Tama, over which by right of descent the lady Mea held her rule.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Indeed for weeks, so far as any subsequent memory was concerned, he remained quite unconscious.
in or at the place that
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
a Caucasian
From this reading Unconscious they bore him in a litter across the desert to the Black Pass of the further mountains where no white man had set foot, and on through the heart of them to the hidden oasis around which they stood like sentinels.
which person or people
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It was not a large town, for the tribe was small, not numbering more than four hundred men who could bear arms for, proud of their ancient blood and hating strangers, they would intermarry with no other folk, and therefore the old race dwindled.
