used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _The Star-Spangled Banner._ From time to time during the day came news of a possible engagement.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an anxious time for those within the town, whose brothers, husbands, sons, or lovers had gone out to meet the enemy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Frigates, bomb-ketches, and small vessels were reported to be ranging themselves in position to cannonade the fort and the town.
eagerly desirous
From this reading It was an anxious time for those within the town, whose brothers, husbands, sons, or lovers had gone out to meet the enemy.
BannernounUS /ˈbænər/
long strip of cloth or paper used for decoration or advertising
From this reading _The Star-Spangled Banner._ From time to time during the day came news of a possible engagement.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading In the night began the debarkation of the British, and by noon the next day a battle was imminent.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Frigates, bomb-ketches, and small vessels were reported to be ranging themselves in position to cannonade the fort and the town.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading In the night began the debarkation of the British, and by noon the next day a battle was imminent.
bomb-ketches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Frigates, bomb-ketches, and small vessels were reported to be ranging themselves in position to cannonade the fort and the town.
the people of Great Britain
From this reading In the night began the debarkation of the British, and by noon the next day a battle was imminent.
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading It was an anxious time for those within the town, whose brothers, husbands, sons, or lovers had gone out to meet the enemy.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In the night began the debarkation of the British, and by noon the next day a battle was imminent.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading _The Star-Spangled Banner._ From time to time during the day came news of a possible engagement.
cannonadenoun
intense and continuous artillery fire
From this reading Frigates, bomb-ketches, and small vessels were reported to be ranging themselves in position to cannonade the fort and the town.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading _The Star-Spangled Banner._ From time to time during the day came news of a possible engagement.
debarkationnoun
the act of passengers and crew getting off of a ship or aircraft
From this reading In the night began the debarkation of the British, and by noon the next day a battle was imminent.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading _The Star-Spangled Banner._ From time to time during the day came news of a possible engagement.
an opposing military force
From this reading It was an anxious time for those within the town, whose brothers, husbands, sons, or lovers had gone out to meet the enemy.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading _The Star-Spangled Banner._ From time to time during the day came news of a possible engagement.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was an anxious time for those within the town, whose brothers, husbands, sons, or lovers had gone out to meet the enemy.
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading Frigates, bomb-ketches, and small vessels were reported to be ranging themselves in position to cannonade the fort and the town.
FrigatesnounUS /ˈfrɪɡəts/
plural of “frigate” — a medium size square-rigged warship of the 18th and 19th centuries
From this reading Frigates, bomb-ketches, and small vessels were reported to be ranging themselves in position to cannonade the fort and the town.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading _The Star-Spangled Banner._ From time to time during the day came news of a possible engagement.
destroyed or killed
From this reading It was an anxious time for those within the town, whose brothers, husbands, sons, or lovers had gone out to meet the enemy.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was an anxious time for those within the town, whose brothers, husbands, sons, or lovers had gone out to meet the enemy.
husbandsnounUS /ˈhʌzbəndz/
plural of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading It was an anxious time for those within the town, whose brothers, husbands, sons, or lovers had gone out to meet the enemy.
imminentadjectiveUS /ˈɪmənənt/
close in time; about to occur
From this reading In the night began the debarkation of the British, and by noon the next day a battle was imminent.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Frigates, bomb-ketches, and small vessels were reported to be ranging themselves in position to cannonade the fort and the town.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an anxious time for those within the town, whose brothers, husbands, sons, or lovers had gone out to meet the enemy.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Off North Point lay the ships of the line.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Off North Point lay the ships of the line.
loversnounUS /ˈlʌvərz/
plural of “lover” — a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading It was an anxious time for those within the town, whose brothers, husbands, sons, or lovers had gone out to meet the enemy.
come together
From this reading It was an anxious time for those within the town, whose brothers, husbands, sons, or lovers had gone out to meet the enemy.
information about recent and important events
From this reading _The Star-Spangled Banner._ From time to time during the day came news of a possible engagement.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading In the night began the debarkation of the British, and by noon the next day a battle was imminent.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading In the night began the debarkation of the British, and by noon the next day a battle was imminent.
the middle of the day
From this reading In the night began the debarkation of the British, and by noon the next day a battle was imminent.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Off North Point lay the ships of the line.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _The Star-Spangled Banner._ From time to time during the day came news of a possible engagement.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Off North Point lay the ships of the line.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was an anxious time for those within the town, whose brothers, husbands, sons, or lovers had gone out to meet the enemy.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was an anxious time for those within the town, whose brothers, husbands, sons, or lovers had gone out to meet the enemy.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Off North Point lay the ships of the line.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Frigates, bomb-ketches, and small vessels were reported to be ranging themselves in position to cannonade the fort and the town.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading _The Star-Spangled Banner._ From time to time during the day came news of a possible engagement.
rangingadjectiveUS /ˈreɪndʒɪŋ/
wandering freely
From this reading Frigates, bomb-ketches, and small vessels were reported to be ranging themselves in position to cannonade the fort and the town.
made known or told about; especially presented in a formal account
From this reading Frigates, bomb-ketches, and small vessels were reported to be ranging themselves in position to cannonade the fort and the town.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading Off North Point lay the ships of the line.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Frigates, bomb-ketches, and small vessels were reported to be ranging themselves in position to cannonade the fort and the town.
plural of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading It was an anxious time for those within the town, whose brothers, husbands, sons, or lovers had gone out to meet the enemy.
Star-Spangled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The Star-Spangled Banner._ From time to time during the day came news of a possible engagement.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _The Star-Spangled Banner._ From time to time during the day came news of a possible engagement.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Frigates, bomb-ketches, and small vessels were reported to be ranging themselves in position to cannonade the fort and the town.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading It was an anxious time for those within the town, whose brothers, husbands, sons, or lovers had gone out to meet the enemy.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading _The Star-Spangled Banner._ From time to time during the day came news of a possible engagement.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _The Star-Spangled Banner._ From time to time during the day came news of a possible engagement.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Frigates, bomb-ketches, and small vessels were reported to be ranging themselves in position to cannonade the fort and the town.
vesselsnounUS /ˈvesəlz/
plural of “vessel” — a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading Frigates, bomb-ketches, and small vessels were reported to be ranging themselves in position to cannonade the fort and the town.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the night began the debarkation of the British, and by noon the next day a battle was imminent.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Frigates, bomb-ketches, and small vessels were reported to be ranging themselves in position to cannonade the fort and the town.
belonging to which person
From this reading It was an anxious time for those within the town, whose brothers, husbands, sons, or lovers had gone out to meet the enemy.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading It was an anxious time for those within the town, whose brothers, husbands, sons, or lovers had gone out to meet the enemy.
