used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Scarcely had they recovered from the effects of the appalling tragedy which had just been enacted, when their attention was drawn to a strange noise on one side of the cell.
alarmsnounUS /əˈlɑːrmz/
plural of “alarm” — fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading The night of which we are speaking was destined to be one pregnant with alarms for the Countess of Arestino and Signora Francatelli.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They listened, and the noise continued--resembling an attempt to remove the massive masonry at that part of the stone chamber.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The night of which we are speaking was destined to be one pregnant with alarms for the Countess of Arestino and Signora Francatelli.
appallingnounUS /əˈpɔːlɪŋ/
an experience that appalls
From this reading Scarcely had they recovered from the effects of the appalling tragedy which had just been enacted, when their attention was drawn to a strange noise on one side of the cell.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The night of which we are speaking was destined to be one pregnant with alarms for the Countess of Arestino and Signora Francatelli.
Arestino
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night of which we are speaking was destined to be one pregnant with alarms for the Countess of Arestino and Signora Francatelli.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They listened, and the noise continued--resembling an attempt to remove the massive masonry at that part of the stone chamber.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading They listened, and the noise continued--resembling an attempt to remove the massive masonry at that part of the stone chamber.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Scarcely had they recovered from the effects of the appalling tragedy which had just been enacted, when their attention was drawn to a strange noise on one side of the cell.
BANDITTI
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BANDITTI.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The night of which we are speaking was destined to be one pregnant with alarms for the Countess of Arestino and Signora Francatelli.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Scarcely had they recovered from the effects of the appalling tragedy which had just been enacted, when their attention was drawn to a strange noise on one side of the cell.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Merciful heavens!" said Flora, in a subdued whisper; "what new terror can now be in store for us!"
cellnounUS /sel/
A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.
From this reading Scarcely had they recovered from the effects of the appalling tragedy which had just been enacted, when their attention was drawn to a strange noise on one side of the cell.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading They listened, and the noise continued--resembling an attempt to remove the massive masonry at that part of the stone chamber.
without stop or interruption
From this reading They listened, and the noise continued--resembling an attempt to remove the massive masonry at that part of the stone chamber.
female equivalent of a count or earl
From this reading The night of which we are speaking was destined to be one pregnant with alarms for the Countess of Arestino and Signora Francatelli.
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 The night of which we are speaking was destined to be one pregnant with alarms for the Countess of Arestino and Signora Francatelli.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Scarcely had they recovered from the effects of the appalling tragedy which had just been enacted, when their attention was drawn to a strange noise on one side of the cell.
effectsnounUS /ɪˈfekts/
property of a personal character that is portable but not used in business
From this reading Scarcely had they recovered from the effects of the appalling tragedy which had just been enacted, when their attention was drawn to a strange noise on one side of the cell.
enactedverbUS /eˈnæktəd/
past form of “enact” — order by virtue of superior authority; decree
From this reading Scarcely had they recovered from the effects of the appalling tragedy which had just been enacted, when their attention was drawn to a strange noise on one side of the cell.
FloranounUS /ˈflɔːrə/
all the plant life in a particular region or period
From this reading "Merciful heavens!" said Flora, in a subdued whisper; "what new terror can now be in store for us!"
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The night of which we are speaking was destined to be one pregnant with alarms for the Countess of Arestino and Signora Francatelli.
Francatelli
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night of which we are speaking was destined to be one pregnant with alarms for the Countess of Arestino and Signora Francatelli.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Scarcely had they recovered from the effects of the appalling tragedy which had just been enacted, when their attention was drawn to a strange noise on one side of the cell.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Scarcely had they recovered from the effects of the appalling tragedy which had just been enacted, when their attention was drawn to a strange noise on one side of the cell.
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading "Merciful heavens!" said Flora, in a subdued whisper; "what new terror can now be in store for us!"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Merciful heavens!" said Flora, in a subdued whisper; "what new terror can now be in store for us!"
and nothing more
From this reading Scarcely had they recovered from the effects of the appalling tragedy which had just been enacted, when their attention was drawn to a strange noise on one side of the cell.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading They listened, and the noise continued--resembling an attempt to remove the massive masonry at that part of the stone chamber.
masonrynounUS /ˈmeɪsənri/
structure built of stone or brick by a mason
From this reading They listened, and the noise continued--resembling an attempt to remove the massive masonry at that part of the stone chamber.
massiveadjectiveUS /ˈmæsɪv/
imposing in size or bulk or solidity
From this reading They listened, and the noise continued--resembling an attempt to remove the massive masonry at that part of the stone chamber.
MercifuladjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrsɪfəl/
showing or giving mercy
From this reading "Merciful heavens!" said Flora, in a subdued whisper; "what new terror can now be in store for us!"
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading "Merciful heavens!" said Flora, in a subdued whisper; "what new terror can now be in store for us!"
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The night of which we are speaking was destined to be one pregnant with alarms for the Countess of Arestino and Signora Francatelli.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading Scarcely had they recovered from the effects of the appalling tragedy which had just been enacted, when their attention was drawn to a strange noise on one side of the cell.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Merciful heavens!" said Flora, in a subdued whisper; "what new terror can now be in store for us!"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The night of which we are speaking was destined to be one pregnant with alarms for the Countess of Arestino and Signora Francatelli.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Scarcely had they recovered from the effects of the appalling tragedy which had just been enacted, when their attention was drawn to a strange noise on one side of the cell.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The night of which we are speaking was destined to be one pregnant with alarms for the Countess of Arestino and Signora Francatelli.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading They listened, and the noise continued--resembling an attempt to remove the massive masonry at that part of the stone chamber.
pregnantadjectiveUS /ˈpreɡnənt/
carrying developing offspring within the body or being about to produce new life
From this reading The night of which we are speaking was destined to be one pregnant with alarms for the Countess of Arestino and Signora Francatelli.
freed from illness or injury
From this reading Scarcely had they recovered from the effects of the appalling tragedy which had just been enacted, when their attention was drawn to a strange noise on one side of the cell.
removeverbUS /riˈmuːv/
remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract
From this reading They listened, and the noise continued--resembling an attempt to remove the massive masonry at that part of the stone chamber.
resemblingverbUS /rɪˈzembəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “resemble” — appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to
From this reading They listened, and the noise continued--resembling an attempt to remove the massive masonry at that part of the stone chamber.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Merciful heavens!" said Flora, in a subdued whisper; "what new terror can now be in store for us!"
only a very short time before
From this reading Scarcely had they recovered from the effects of the appalling tragedy which had just been enacted, when their attention was drawn to a strange noise on one side of the cell.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Scarcely had they recovered from the effects of the appalling tragedy which had just been enacted, when their attention was drawn to a strange noise on one side of the cell.
Signoranoun
an Italian title of address equivalent to Mrs. when used before a name
From this reading The night of which we are speaking was destined to be one pregnant with alarms for the Countess of Arestino and Signora Francatelli.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading The night of which we are speaking was destined to be one pregnant with alarms for the Countess of Arestino and Signora Francatelli.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading They listened, and the noise continued--resembling an attempt to remove the massive masonry at that part of the stone chamber.
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading "Merciful heavens!" said Flora, in a subdued whisper; "what new terror can now be in store for us!"
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Scarcely had they recovered from the effects of the appalling tragedy which had just been enacted, when their attention was drawn to a strange noise on one side of the cell.
subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading "Merciful heavens!" said Flora, in a subdued whisper; "what new terror can now be in store for us!"
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading "Merciful heavens!" said Flora, in a subdued whisper; "what new terror can now be in store for us!"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They listened, and the noise continued--resembling an attempt to remove the massive masonry at that part of the stone chamber.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BANDITTI.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Scarcely had they recovered from the effects of the appalling tragedy which had just been enacted, when their attention was drawn to a strange noise on one side of the cell.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Scarcely had they recovered from the effects of the appalling tragedy which had just been enacted, when their attention was drawn to a strange noise on one side of the cell.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The night of which we are speaking was destined to be one pregnant with alarms for the Countess of Arestino and Signora Francatelli.
tragedynounUS /ˈtrædʒədi/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading Scarcely had they recovered from the effects of the appalling tragedy which had just been enacted, when their attention was drawn to a strange noise on one side of the cell.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Merciful heavens!" said Flora, in a subdued whisper; "what new terror can now be in store for us!"
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The night of which we are speaking was destined to be one pregnant with alarms for the Countess of Arestino and Signora Francatelli.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The night of which we are speaking was destined to be one pregnant with alarms for the Countess of Arestino and Signora Francatelli.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Merciful heavens!" said Flora, in a subdued whisper; "what new terror can now be in store for us!"
at the time that
From this reading Scarcely had they recovered from the effects of the appalling tragedy which had just been enacted, when their attention was drawn to a strange noise on one side of the cell.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The night of which we are speaking was destined to be one pregnant with alarms for the Countess of Arestino and Signora Francatelli.
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading "Merciful heavens!" said Flora, in a subdued whisper; "what new terror can now be in store for us!"
in the company of; together with
From this reading The night of which we are speaking was destined to be one pregnant with alarms for the Countess of Arestino and Signora Francatelli.
