used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Long ere he ended, Alister came close behind him, and there stood, his bosom heaving with emotion, his eyes burning with a dry fire.
Alister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Long ere he ended, Alister came close behind him, and there stood, his bosom heaving with emotion, his eyes burning with a dry fire.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Long ere he ended, Alister came close behind him, and there stood, his bosom heaving with emotion, his eyes burning with a dry fire.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I will not give his tale in the first person; and will tell of it only as much as I think it necessary my reader should know.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Long ere he ended, Alister came close behind him, and there stood, his bosom heaving with emotion, his eyes burning with a dry fire.
the chest considered as the place where secret thoughts are kept
From this reading Long ere he ended, Alister came close behind him, and there stood, his bosom heaving with emotion, his eyes burning with a dry fire.
the act of burning something
From this reading Long ere he ended, Alister came close behind him, and there stood, his bosom heaving with emotion, his eyes burning with a dry fire.
busiedverbUS /ˈbɪzid/
inflected form of “busy” — keep busy with
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Long ere he ended, Alister came close behind him, and there stood, his bosom heaving with emotion, his eyes burning with a dry fire.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Long ere he ended, Alister came close behind him, and there stood, his bosom heaving with emotion, his eyes burning with a dry fire.
serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress
From this reading Ian was perfectly composed, his voice quiet and low.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading Long ere he ended, Alister came close behind him, and there stood, his bosom heaving with emotion, his eyes burning with a dry fire.
any strong feeling
From this reading Long ere he ended, Alister came close behind him, and there stood, his bosom heaving with emotion, his eyes burning with a dry fire.
endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading Long ere he ended, Alister came close behind him, and there stood, his bosom heaving with emotion, his eyes burning with a dry fire.
an old word for “before”
From this reading Long ere he ended, Alister came close behind him, and there stood, his bosom heaving with emotion, his eyes burning with a dry fire.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Long ere he ended, Alister came close behind him, and there stood, his bosom heaving with emotion, his eyes burning with a dry fire.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Long ere he ended, Alister came close behind him, and there stood, his bosom heaving with emotion, his eyes burning with a dry fire.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading I will not give his tale in the first person; and will tell of it only as much as I think it necessary my reader should know.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
heavingnounUS /ˈhiːvɪŋ/
an upward movement (especially a rhythmical rising and falling)
From this reading Long ere he ended, Alister came close behind him, and there stood, his bosom heaving with emotion, his eyes burning with a dry fire.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Long ere he ended, Alister came close behind him, and there stood, his bosom heaving with emotion, his eyes burning with a dry fire.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I will not give his tale in the first person; and will tell of it only as much as I think it necessary my reader should know.
Ian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I will not give his tale in the first person; and will tell of it only as much as I think it necessary my reader should know.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I will not give his tale in the first person; and will tell of it only as much as I think it necessary my reader should know.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Long ere he ended, Alister came close behind him, and there stood, his bosom heaving with emotion, his eyes burning with a dry fire.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Ian was perfectly composed, his voice quiet and low.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading I will not give his tale in the first person; and will tell of it only as much as I think it necessary my reader should know.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I will not give his tale in the first person; and will tell of it only as much as I think it necessary my reader should know.
absolutely essential
From this reading I will not give his tale in the first person; and will tell of it only as much as I think it necessary my reader should know.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I will not give his tale in the first person; and will tell of it only as much as I think it necessary my reader should know.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
and nothing more
From this reading I will not give his tale in the first person; and will tell of it only as much as I think it necessary my reader should know.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Ian was perfectly composed, his voice quiet and low.
a human being
From this reading I will not give his tale in the first person; and will tell of it only as much as I think it necessary my reader should know.
The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.
From this reading THE PRINCESS.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading Ian was perfectly composed, his voice quiet and low.
a person who enjoys reading
From this reading I will not give his tale in the first person; and will tell of it only as much as I think it necessary my reader should know.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
RussianounUS /ˈrʌʃə/
a former communist country in eastern Europe and northern Asia; established in 1922; included Russia and 14 other soviet socialist republics (Ukraine and Byelorussia and others); officially dissolved 31 December 1991
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading I will not give his tale in the first person; and will tell of it only as much as I think it necessary my reader should know.
sketchesnounUS /ˈsketʃəz/
plural of “sketch” — preliminary drawing for later elaboration
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Long ere he ended, Alister came close behind him, and there stood, his bosom heaving with emotion, his eyes burning with a dry fire.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading I will not give his tale in the first person; and will tell of it only as much as I think it necessary my reader should know.
express in words
From this reading I will not give his tale in the first person; and will tell of it only as much as I think it necessary my reader should know.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PRINCESS.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Long ere he ended, Alister came close behind him, and there stood, his bosom heaving with emotion, his eyes burning with a dry fire.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading I will not give his tale in the first person; and will tell of it only as much as I think it necessary my reader should know.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Ian was perfectly composed, his voice quiet and low.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading I will not give his tale in the first person; and will tell of it only as much as I think it necessary my reader should know.
in the company of; together with
From this reading While they were thus busied, Ian, with his face to the wall, in the dim light of the candle by which he was making his first rough sketches, began the story of his flight from Russia.
