used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Now there was a scene of confusion and desperate strife.
anew
From this reading With an execration he again turned and rushed down the stairs, hoping by a vigorous effort to cast back the foe.
experiencing a sudden sense of danger
From this reading It was, however, all too late: his followers, disheartened and alarmed, fought without method or order in scattered groups of threes and fours.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading It was, however, all too late: his followers, disheartened and alarmed, fought without method or order in scattered groups of threes and fours.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading With an execration he again turned and rushed down the stairs, hoping by a vigorous effort to cast back the foe.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Now there was a scene of confusion and desperate strife.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading With an execration he again turned and rushed down the stairs, hoping by a vigorous effort to cast back the foe.
a nobleman (in various countries) of varying rank
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading With an execration he again turned and rushed down the stairs, hoping by a vigorous effort to cast back the foe.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
put or send forth
From this reading With an execration he again turned and rushed down the stairs, hoping by a vigorous effort to cast back the foe.
Cnutnoun
king of Denmark and Norway who forced Edmund II to divide England with him; on the death of Edmund II, Canute became king of all England (994-1035)
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
conflictnounUS /ˈkɑːnflɪkt/
an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading Now there was a scene of confusion and desperate strife.
cornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/
plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area
From this reading They made their last stand in corners and passages.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading Now there was a scene of confusion and desperate strife.
disheartenedadjectiveUS /dɪsˈhɑːrtənd/
made less hopeful or enthusiastic
From this reading It was, however, all too late: his followers, disheartened and alarmed, fought without method or order in scattered groups of threes and fours.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading With an execration he again turned and rushed down the stairs, hoping by a vigorous effort to cast back the foe.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading With an execration he again turned and rushed down the stairs, hoping by a vigorous effort to cast back the foe.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
execrationnoun
hate coupled with disgust
From this reading With an execration he again turned and rushed down the stairs, hoping by a vigorous effort to cast back the foe.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
foenounUS /foʊ/
an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)
From this reading With an execration he again turned and rushed down the stairs, hoping by a vigorous effort to cast back the foe.
followersnounUS /ˈfɑːloʊərz/
a group of followers or enthusiasts
From this reading It was, however, all too late: his followers, disheartened and alarmed, fought without method or order in scattered groups of threes and fours.
inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading It was, however, all too late: his followers, disheartened and alarmed, fought without method or order in scattered groups of threes and fours.
foursnounUS /fɔːrz/
plural of “four” — the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading It was, however, all too late: his followers, disheartened and alarmed, fought without method or order in scattered groups of threes and fours.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
groupsnounUS /ɡruːps/
plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading It was, however, all too late: his followers, disheartened and alarmed, fought without method or order in scattered groups of threes and fours.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With an execration he again turned and rushed down the stairs, hoping by a vigorous effort to cast back the foe.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading With an execration he again turned and rushed down the stairs, hoping by a vigorous effort to cast back the foe.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading It was, however, all too late: his followers, disheartened and alarmed, fought without method or order in scattered groups of threes and fours.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was, however, all too late: his followers, disheartened and alarmed, fought without method or order in scattered groups of threes and fours.
and nothing more
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
immediately past
From this reading They made their last stand in corners and passages.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading It was, however, all too late: his followers, disheartened and alarmed, fought without method or order in scattered groups of threes and fours.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading They made their last stand in corners and passages.
the force of workers available
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)
From this reading It was, however, all too late: his followers, disheartened and alarmed, fought without method or order in scattered groups of threes and fours.
information about recent and important events
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now there was a scene of confusion and desperate strife.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Now there was a scene of confusion and desperate strife.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was, however, all too late: his followers, disheartened and alarmed, fought without method or order in scattered groups of threes and fours.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading It was, however, all too late: his followers, disheartened and alarmed, fought without method or order in scattered groups of threes and fours.
passagesnounUS /ˈpæsədʒəz/
plural of “passage” — the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading They made their last stand in corners and passages.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
done under pressure
From this reading With an execration he again turned and rushed down the stairs, hoping by a vigorous effort to cast back the foe.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading It was, however, all too late: his followers, disheartened and alarmed, fought without method or order in scattered groups of threes and fours.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Now there was a scene of confusion and desperate strife.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
be standing; be upright
From this reading They made their last stand in corners and passages.
strifenounUS /straɪf/
lack of agreement or harmony
From this reading Now there was a scene of confusion and desperate strife.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They made their last stand in corners and passages.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Now there was a scene of confusion and desperate strife.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They made their last stand in corners and passages.
threesnounUS /θriːz/
plural of “three” — the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading It was, however, all too late: his followers, disheartened and alarmed, fought without method or order in scattered groups of threes and fours.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With an execration he again turned and rushed down the stairs, hoping by a vigorous effort to cast back the foe.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It was, however, all too late: his followers, disheartened and alarmed, fought without method or order in scattered groups of threes and fours.
the upper part of anything
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading With an execration he again turned and rushed down the stairs, hoping by a vigorous effort to cast back the foe.
vigorousadjectiveUS /ˈvɪɡərəs/
characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity
From this reading With an execration he again turned and rushed down the stairs, hoping by a vigorous effort to cast back the foe.
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 The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now there was a scene of confusion and desperate strife.
at the time that
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The baron had just gained the top of the stairs, and was engaged in a fierce conflict with Cnut and his men, when the news reached him that the wall was carried from without.
