used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AT HOME Lafayette had received the startling news and acted upon it without a question.
past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading AT HOME Lafayette had received the startling news and acted upon it without a question.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The soldier who had taken Ruth's message found an opportunity to tell Lafayette that the news that had saved his army had been brought by a little girl.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AT HOME Lafayette had received the startling news and acted upon it without a question.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading The soldier who had taken Ruth's message found an opportunity to tell Lafayette that the news that had saved his army had been brought by a little girl.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT HOME Lafayette had received the startling news and acted upon it without a question.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Lafayette likewise marched back to Valley Forge, where he was received with great joy.
BarrenadjectiveUS /ˈbærən/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The soldier who had taken Ruth's message found an opportunity to tell Lafayette that the news that had saved his army had been brought by a little girl.
the people of Great Britain
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The soldier who had taken Ruth's message found an opportunity to tell Lafayette that the news that had saved his army had been brought by a little girl.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They decided not to cross the river, but returned to Philadelphia, much disappointed that the Marquis de Lafayette was not their prisoner.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The soldier who had taken Ruth's message found an opportunity to tell Lafayette that the news that had saved his army had been brought by a little girl.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
travel across or pass over
From this reading They decided not to cross the river, but returned to Philadelphia, much disappointed that the Marquis de Lafayette was not their prisoner.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading They decided not to cross the river, but returned to Philadelphia, much disappointed that the Marquis de Lafayette was not their prisoner.
recognizable; marked
From this reading They decided not to cross the river, but returned to Philadelphia, much disappointed that the Marquis de Lafayette was not their prisoner.
disappointingly unsuccessful
From this reading They decided not to cross the river, but returned to Philadelphia, much disappointed that the Marquis de Lafayette was not their prisoner.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
FordnounUS /fɔːrd/
United States film maker (1896-1973)
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
ForgeverbUS /fɔːrdʒ/
create by hammering
From this reading Lafayette likewise marched back to Valley Forge, where he was received with great joy.
set up or found
From this reading The soldier who had taken Ruth's message found an opportunity to tell Lafayette that the news that had saved his army had been brought by a little girl.
generalsnounUS /ˈdʒenərəlz/
plural of “general” — a general officer of the highest rank
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
a young female
From this reading The soldier who had taken Ruth's message found an opportunity to tell Lafayette that the news that had saved his army had been brought by a little girl.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Lafayette likewise marched back to Valley Forge, where he was received with great joy.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading AT HOME Lafayette had received the startling news and acted upon it without a question.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading AT HOME Lafayette had received the startling news and acted upon it without a question.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading AT HOME Lafayette had received the startling news and acted upon it without a question.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading Lafayette likewise marched back to Valley Forge, where he was received with great joy.
LafayettenounUS /ˌlɑːfiˈet/
French soldier who served under George Washington in the American Revolution (1757-1834)
From this reading AT HOME Lafayette had received the startling news and acted upon it without a question.
in like or similar manner
From this reading Lafayette likewise marched back to Valley Forge, where he was received with great joy.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The soldier who had taken Ruth's message found an opportunity to tell Lafayette that the news that had saved his army had been brought by a little girl.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
marchedverbUS /mɑːrtʃt/
past form of “march” — march in a procession
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
humorist who wrote about the imaginary life of cockroaches (1878-1937)
From this reading They decided not to cross the river, but returned to Philadelphia, much disappointed that the Marquis de Lafayette was not their prisoner.
Matson's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
the force of workers available
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading The soldier who had taken Ruth's message found an opportunity to tell Lafayette that the news that had saved his army had been brought by a little girl.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading They decided not to cross the river, but returned to Philadelphia, much disappointed that the Marquis de Lafayette was not their prisoner.
information about recent and important events
From this reading AT HOME Lafayette had received the startling news and acted upon it without a question.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They decided not to cross the river, but returned to Philadelphia, much disappointed that the Marquis de Lafayette was not their prisoner.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
and nothing more
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading The soldier who had taken Ruth's message found an opportunity to tell Lafayette that the news that had saved his army had been brought by a little girl.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
PhiladelphianounUS /ˌfɪləˈdelfiə/
the largest city in Pennsylvania; located in the southeastern part of the state on the Delaware river; site of Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed; site of the University of Pennsylvania
From this reading They decided not to cross the river, but returned to Philadelphia, much disappointed that the Marquis de Lafayette was not their prisoner.
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading They decided not to cross the river, but returned to Philadelphia, much disappointed that the Marquis de Lafayette was not their prisoner.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading AT HOME Lafayette had received the startling news and acted upon it without a question.
with speed
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading AT HOME Lafayette had received the startling news and acted upon it without a question.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading They decided not to cross the river, but returned to Philadelphia, much disappointed that the Marquis de Lafayette was not their prisoner.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading They decided not to cross the river, but returned to Philadelphia, much disappointed that the Marquis de Lafayette was not their prisoner.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
Ruth'snounUS /ruːθs/
possessive form of “ruth” — United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading The soldier who had taken Ruth's message found an opportunity to tell Lafayette that the news that had saved his army had been brought by a little girl.
rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin
From this reading The soldier who had taken Ruth's message found an opportunity to tell Lafayette that the news that had saved his army had been brought by a little girl.
an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading The soldier who had taken Ruth's message found an opportunity to tell Lafayette that the news that had saved his army had been brought by a little girl.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading AT HOME Lafayette had received the startling news and acted upon it without a question.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The soldier who had taken Ruth's message found an opportunity to tell Lafayette that the news that had saved his army had been brought by a little girl.
express in words
From this reading The soldier who had taken Ruth's message found an opportunity to tell Lafayette that the news that had saved his army had been brought by a little girl.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT HOME Lafayette had received the startling news and acted upon it without a question.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They decided not to cross the river, but returned to Philadelphia, much disappointed that the Marquis de Lafayette was not their prisoner.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading AT HOME Lafayette had received the startling news and acted upon it without a question.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Lafayette likewise marched back to Valley Forge, where he was received with great joy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They decided not to cross the river, but returned to Philadelphia, much disappointed that the Marquis de Lafayette was not their prisoner.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
at the time that
From this reading He marched his men rapidly toward Matson's Ford, on the lower road, and when the British generals came up to Barren Hill they were astonished to find that they had only each other to fight.
in or at the place that
From this reading Lafayette likewise marched back to Valley Forge, where he was received with great joy.
which person or people
From this reading The soldier who had taken Ruth's message found an opportunity to tell Lafayette that the news that had saved his army had been brought by a little girl.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Lafayette likewise marched back to Valley Forge, where he was received with great joy.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading AT HOME Lafayette had received the startling news and acted upon it without a question.
