used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Whilst they were speaking a fiery dragon came flying through the air.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Whilst they were speaking a fiery dragon came flying through the air.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It hovered near them, and asked why they were hidden there.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading They answered, ‘We are three soldiers, and have deserted because our pay was so small.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They answered, ‘We are three soldiers, and have deserted because our pay was so small.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading It hovered near them, and asked why they were hidden there.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Now if we remain here we shall die of hunger, and if we move out we shall be strung up on the gallows.’
for the reason that
From this reading They answered, ‘We are three soldiers, and have deserted because our pay was so small.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Whilst they were speaking a fiery dragon came flying through the air.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading They answered, ‘We are three soldiers, and have deserted because our pay was so small.
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading Now if we remain here we shall die of hunger, and if we move out we shall be strung up on the gallows.’
dragonnounUS /ˈdræɡən/
a creature of Teutonic mythology; usually represented as breathing fire and having a reptilian body and sometimes wings
From this reading Whilst they were speaking a fiery dragon came flying through the air.
fieryadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪəri/
characterized by intense emotion
From this reading Whilst they were speaking a fiery dragon came flying through the air.
moving swiftly
From this reading Whilst they were speaking a fiery dragon came flying through the air.
gallowsnounUS /ˈɡæloʊz/
an instrument of execution consisting of a wooden frame from which a condemned person is executed by hanging
From this reading Now if we remain here we shall die of hunger, and if we move out we shall be strung up on the gallows.’
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They answered, ‘We are three soldiers, and have deserted because our pay was so small.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading We must perish here miserably.’
not accessible to view
From this reading It hovered near them, and asked why they were hidden there.
hoveredverbUS /ˈhʌvərd/
past form of “hover” — be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
From this reading It hovered near them, and asked why they were hidden there.
a physiological need for food; the consequence of food deprivation
From this reading Now if we remain here we shall die of hunger, and if we move out we shall be strung up on the gallows.’
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Now if we remain here we shall die of hunger, and if we move out we shall be strung up on the gallows.’
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It hovered near them, and asked why they were hidden there.
miserablyadverbUS /ˈmɪzərəbli/
in a miserable manner
From this reading We must perish here miserably.’
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Now if we remain here we shall die of hunger, and if we move out we shall be strung up on the gallows.’
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading We must perish here miserably.’
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading It hovered near them, and asked why they were hidden there.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now if we remain here we shall die of hunger, and if we move out we shall be strung up on the gallows.’
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Now if we remain here we shall die of hunger, and if we move out we shall be strung up on the gallows.’
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Now if we remain here we shall die of hunger, and if we move out we shall be strung up on the gallows.’
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading They answered, ‘We are three soldiers, and have deserted because our pay was so small.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Now if we remain here we shall die of hunger, and if we move out we shall be strung up on the gallows.’
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading They answered, ‘We are three soldiers, and have deserted because our pay was so small.
perishverbUS /ˈperɪʃ/
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading We must perish here miserably.’
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Now if we remain here we shall die of hunger, and if we move out we shall be strung up on the gallows.’
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading Now if we remain here we shall die of hunger, and if we move out we shall be strung up on the gallows.’
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They answered, ‘We are three soldiers, and have deserted because our pay was so small.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They answered, ‘We are three soldiers, and have deserted because our pay was so small.
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading They answered, ‘We are three soldiers, and have deserted because our pay was so small.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading Whilst they were speaking a fiery dragon came flying through the air.
strungadjectiveUS /strʌŋ/
that is on a string
From this reading Now if we remain here we shall die of hunger, and if we move out we shall be strung up on the gallows.’
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Whilst they were speaking a fiery dragon came flying through the air.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It hovered near them, and asked why they were hidden there.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It hovered near them, and asked why they were hidden there.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Whilst they were speaking a fiery dragon came flying through the air.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading They answered, ‘We are three soldiers, and have deserted because our pay was so small.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Whilst they were speaking a fiery dragon came flying through the air.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Now if we remain here we shall die of hunger, and if we move out we shall be strung up on the gallows.’
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They answered, ‘We are three soldiers, and have deserted because our pay was so small.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We must perish here miserably.’
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Whilst they were speaking a fiery dragon came flying through the air.
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading Whilst they were speaking a fiery dragon came flying through the air.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading It hovered near them, and asked why they were hidden there.
