used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Circus in Rome was thronged with an enormous crowd of persons on a day in June, about two thousand years ago.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The Circus in Rome was thronged with an enormous crowd of persons on a day in June, about two thousand years ago.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading His cloak was royal purple, and was thrown carelessly back, on this warm June afternoon, to disclose a white tunic, embroidered in scarlet.
in the past
From this reading The Circus in Rome was thronged with an enormous crowd of persons on a day in June, about two thousand years ago.
amphitheatrenounUS /ˈæmfəθiˈeɪtər/
a sloping gallery with seats for spectators (as in an operating room or theater)
From this reading At the western end of the oval amphitheatre was the Emperor's box, flanked with tall Corinthian pillars, on which were hung the coat-of-arms of the Roman people.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The Circus in Rome was thronged with an enormous crowd of persons on a day in June, about two thousand years ago.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One hundred thousand men and women sat on its tiers of white marble seats, under the open sky and witnessed a gladiatorial contest in the arena, beneath.
arenanounUS /ərˈiːnə/
a particular environment or walk of life
From this reading One hundred thousand men and women sat on its tiers of white marble seats, under the open sky and witnessed a gladiatorial contest in the arena, beneath.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the western end of the oval amphitheatre was the Emperor's box, flanked with tall Corinthian pillars, on which were hung the coat-of-arms of the Roman people.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading His cloak was royal purple, and was thrown carelessly back, on this warm June afternoon, to disclose a white tunic, embroidered in scarlet.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading One hundred thousand men and women sat on its tiers of white marble seats, under the open sky and witnessed a gladiatorial contest in the arena, beneath.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading At the western end of the oval amphitheatre was the Emperor's box, flanked with tall Corinthian pillars, on which were hung the coat-of-arms of the Roman people.
carelesslyadverbUS /ˈkerləsli/
without care or concern
From this reading His cloak was royal purple, and was thrown carelessly back, on this warm June afternoon, to disclose a white tunic, embroidered in scarlet.
CircusnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəs/
a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals
From this reading The Circus in Rome was thronged with an enormous crowd of persons on a day in June, about two thousand years ago.
anything that covers or conceals
From this reading His cloak was royal purple, and was thrown carelessly back, on this warm June afternoon, to disclose a white tunic, embroidered in scarlet.
coat-of-arms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the western end of the oval amphitheatre was the Emperor's box, flanked with tall Corinthian pillars, on which were hung the coat-of-arms of the Roman people.
contestnounUS /ˈkɑːntest/
an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants
From this reading One hundred thousand men and women sat on its tiers of white marble seats, under the open sky and witnessed a gladiatorial contest in the arena, beneath.
CorinthiannounUS /kərˈɪnθiən/
a man devoted to the pursuit of pleasure
From this reading At the western end of the oval amphitheatre was the Emperor's box, flanked with tall Corinthian pillars, on which were hung the coat-of-arms of the Roman people.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading The Circus in Rome was thronged with an enormous crowd of persons on a day in June, about two thousand years ago.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading Here sat one of the most cruel emperors Rome has ever suffered under.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The Circus in Rome was thronged with an enormous crowd of persons on a day in June, about two thousand years ago.
discloseverbUS /dɪˈskloʊz/
make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
From this reading His cloak was royal purple, and was thrown carelessly back, on this warm June afternoon, to disclose a white tunic, embroidered in scarlet.
embroideredverbUS /emˈbrɔɪdərd/
past form of “embroider” — decorate with needlework
From this reading His cloak was royal purple, and was thrown carelessly back, on this warm June afternoon, to disclose a white tunic, embroidered in scarlet.
Emperor'snounUS /ˈempərərz/
possessive form of “emperor” — the male ruler of an empire
From this reading At the western end of the oval amphitheatre was the Emperor's box, flanked with tall Corinthian pillars, on which were hung the coat-of-arms of the Roman people.
emperorsnounUS /ˈempərərz/
plural of “emperor” — the male ruler of an empire
From this reading Here sat one of the most cruel emperors Rome has ever suffered under.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading At the western end of the oval amphitheatre was the Emperor's box, flanked with tall Corinthian pillars, on which were hung the coat-of-arms of the Roman people.
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading The Circus in Rome was thronged with an enormous crowd of persons on a day in June, about two thousand years ago.
at any time
From this reading Here sat one of the most cruel emperors Rome has ever suffered under.
flankedverbUS /flæŋkt/
past form of “flank” — be located at the sides of something or somebody
From this reading At the western end of the oval amphitheatre was the Emperor's box, flanked with tall Corinthian pillars, on which were hung the coat-of-arms of the Roman people.
gladiatorialadjective
of or relating to or resembling gladiators or their combat
From this reading One hundred thousand men and women sat on its tiers of white marble seats, under the open sky and witnessed a gladiatorial contest in the arena, beneath.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Here sat one of the most cruel emperors Rome has ever suffered under.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here sat one of the most cruel emperors Rome has ever suffered under.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His cloak was royal purple, and was thrown carelessly back, on this warm June afternoon, to disclose a white tunic, embroidered in scarlet.
ten 10s
From this reading One hundred thousand men and women sat on its tiers of white marble seats, under the open sky and witnessed a gladiatorial contest in the arena, beneath.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading At the western end of the oval amphitheatre was the Emperor's box, flanked with tall Corinthian pillars, on which were hung the coat-of-arms of the Roman people.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Circus in Rome was thronged with an enormous crowd of persons on a day in June, about two thousand years ago.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading One hundred thousand men and women sat on its tiers of white marble seats, under the open sky and witnessed a gladiatorial contest in the arena, beneath.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading The Circus in Rome was thronged with an enormous crowd of persons on a day in June, about two thousand years ago.
a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
From this reading One hundred thousand men and women sat on its tiers of white marble seats, under the open sky and witnessed a gladiatorial contest in the arena, beneath.
the force of workers available
From this reading One hundred thousand men and women sat on its tiers of white marble seats, under the open sky and witnessed a gladiatorial contest in the arena, beneath.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Here sat one of the most cruel emperors Rome has ever suffered under.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Circus in Rome was thronged with an enormous crowd of persons on a day in June, about two thousand years ago.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Circus in Rome was thronged with an enormous crowd of persons on a day in June, about two thousand years ago.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One hundred thousand men and women sat on its tiers of white marble seats, under the open sky and witnessed a gladiatorial contest in the arena, beneath.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading One hundred thousand men and women sat on its tiers of white marble seats, under the open sky and witnessed a gladiatorial contest in the arena, beneath.
ovalnounUS /ˈoʊvəl/
a closed plane curve resulting from the intersection of a circular cone and a plane cutting completely through it
From this reading At the western end of the oval amphitheatre was the Emperor's box, flanked with tall Corinthian pillars, on which were hung the coat-of-arms of the Roman people.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading At the western end of the oval amphitheatre was the Emperor's box, flanked with tall Corinthian pillars, on which were hung the coat-of-arms of the Roman people.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading The Circus in Rome was thronged with an enormous crowd of persons on a day in June, about two thousand years ago.
pillarsnounUS /ˈpɪlərz/
plural of “pillar” — a fundamental principle or practice
From this reading At the western end of the oval amphitheatre was the Emperor's box, flanked with tall Corinthian pillars, on which were hung the coat-of-arms of the Roman people.
a purple color or pigment
From this reading His cloak was royal purple, and was thrown carelessly back, on this warm June afternoon, to disclose a white tunic, embroidered in scarlet.
RomanadjectiveUS /ˈroʊmən/
relating to or characteristic of people of Rome
From this reading At the western end of the oval amphitheatre was the Emperor's box, flanked with tall Corinthian pillars, on which were hung the coat-of-arms of the Roman people.
capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire
From this reading The Circus in Rome was thronged with an enormous crowd of persons on a day in June, about two thousand years ago.
royaladjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading His cloak was royal purple, and was thrown carelessly back, on this warm June afternoon, to disclose a white tunic, embroidered in scarlet.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading One hundred thousand men and women sat on its tiers of white marble seats, under the open sky and witnessed a gladiatorial contest in the arena, beneath.
scarletnounUS /ˈskɑːrlət/
a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge
From this reading His cloak was royal purple, and was thrown carelessly back, on this warm June afternoon, to disclose a white tunic, embroidered in scarlet.
seatsnounUS /siːts/
an area that includes places where several people can sit
From this reading One hundred thousand men and women sat on its tiers of white marble seats, under the open sky and witnessed a gladiatorial contest in the arena, beneath.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading One hundred thousand men and women sat on its tiers of white marble seats, under the open sky and witnessed a gladiatorial contest in the arena, beneath.
past form of “suffer” — undergo or be subjected to
From this reading Here sat one of the most cruel emperors Rome has ever suffered under.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading At the western end of the oval amphitheatre was the Emperor's box, flanked with tall Corinthian pillars, on which were hung the coat-of-arms of the Roman people.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Circus in Rome was thronged with an enormous crowd of persons on a day in June, about two thousand years ago.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading His cloak was royal purple, and was thrown carelessly back, on this warm June afternoon, to disclose a white tunic, embroidered in scarlet.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading The Circus in Rome was thronged with an enormous crowd of persons on a day in June, about two thousand years ago.
throngedadjectiveUS /θrɔːŋd/
filled with great numbers crowded together
From this reading The Circus in Rome was thronged with an enormous crowd of persons on a day in June, about two thousand years ago.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading His cloak was royal purple, and was thrown carelessly back, on this warm June afternoon, to disclose a white tunic, embroidered in scarlet.
tiersnounUS /tiːrz/
plural of “tier” — a relative position or degree of value in a graded group
From this reading One hundred thousand men and women sat on its tiers of white marble seats, under the open sky and witnessed a gladiatorial contest in the arena, beneath.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His cloak was royal purple, and was thrown carelessly back, on this warm June afternoon, to disclose a white tunic, embroidered in scarlet.
tunicnounUS /ˈtuːnɪk/
an enveloping or covering membrane or layer of body tissue
From this reading His cloak was royal purple, and was thrown carelessly back, on this warm June afternoon, to disclose a white tunic, embroidered in scarlet.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The Circus in Rome was thronged with an enormous crowd of persons on a day in June, about two thousand years ago.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading One hundred thousand men and women sat on its tiers of white marble seats, under the open sky and witnessed a gladiatorial contest in the arena, beneath.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading His cloak was royal purple, and was thrown carelessly back, on this warm June afternoon, to disclose a white tunic, embroidered in scarlet.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Circus in Rome was thronged with an enormous crowd of persons on a day in June, about two thousand years ago.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At the western end of the oval amphitheatre was the Emperor's box, flanked with tall Corinthian pillars, on which were hung the coat-of-arms of the Roman people.
relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts
From this reading At the western end of the oval amphitheatre was the Emperor's box, flanked with tall Corinthian pillars, on which were hung the coat-of-arms of the Roman people.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At the western end of the oval amphitheatre was the Emperor's box, flanked with tall Corinthian pillars, on which were hung the coat-of-arms of the Roman people.
a Caucasian
From this reading One hundred thousand men and women sat on its tiers of white marble seats, under the open sky and witnessed a gladiatorial contest in the arena, beneath.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Circus in Rome was thronged with an enormous crowd of persons on a day in June, about two thousand years ago.
witnessedverbUS /ˈwɪtnəst/
past form of “witness” — be a witness to
From this reading One hundred thousand men and women sat on its tiers of white marble seats, under the open sky and witnessed a gladiatorial contest in the arena, beneath.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading One hundred thousand men and women sat on its tiers of white marble seats, under the open sky and witnessed a gladiatorial contest in the arena, beneath.
a late time of life
From this reading The Circus in Rome was thronged with an enormous crowd of persons on a day in June, about two thousand years ago.
