used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In an embrasure a few feet from us a man was holding a lighted fuse to a cannon.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In an embrasure a few feet from us a man was holding a lighted fuse to a cannon.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I shuddered, and I thought my last hour had come.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Through the blue haze I could see the Russian Grenadiers, with arms fixed, like motionless statues, behind their half-destroyed parapet.
beginsnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnz/
plural of “begin” — Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)
From this reading "Now the fun begins," cried my captain.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Through the blue haze I could see the Russian Grenadiers, with arms fixed, like motionless statues, behind their half-destroyed parapet.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Through the blue haze I could see the Russian Grenadiers, with arms fixed, like motionless statues, behind their half-destroyed parapet.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I can see now each soldier, his left eye fixed on us, his right hidden by his raised gun.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading I can see now each soldier, his left eye fixed on us, his right hidden by his raised gun.
cannonnounUS /ˈkænən/
a large artillery gun that is usually on wheels
From this reading In an embrasure a few feet from us a man was holding a lighted fuse to a cannon.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading "Now the fun begins," cried my captain.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I shuddered, and I thought my last hour had come.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Through the blue haze I could see the Russian Grenadiers, with arms fixed, like motionless statues, behind their half-destroyed parapet.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "Now the fun begins," cried my captain.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading I can see now each soldier, his left eye fixed on us, his right hidden by his raised gun.
embrasurenoun
an opening (in a wall or ship or armored vehicle) for firing through
From this reading In an embrasure a few feet from us a man was holding a lighted fuse to a cannon.
the organ of sight
From this reading I can see now each soldier, his left eye fixed on us, his right hidden by his raised gun.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading In an embrasure a few feet from us a man was holding a lighted fuse to a cannon.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading In an embrasure a few feet from us a man was holding a lighted fuse to a cannon.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading Through the blue haze I could see the Russian Grenadiers, with arms fixed, like motionless statues, behind their half-destroyed parapet.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In an embrasure a few feet from us a man was holding a lighted fuse to a cannon.
activities that are enjoyable or amusing
From this reading "Now the fun begins," cried my captain.
fuseverbUS /fjuːz/
mix together different elements
From this reading In an embrasure a few feet from us a man was holding a lighted fuse to a cannon.
Grenadiers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the blue haze I could see the Russian Grenadiers, with arms fixed, like motionless statues, behind their half-destroyed parapet.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading I can see now each soldier, his left eye fixed on us, his right hidden by his raised gun.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I shuddered, and I thought my last hour had come.
half-destroyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the blue haze I could see the Russian Grenadiers, with arms fixed, like motionless statues, behind their half-destroyed parapet.
hazenounUS /heɪz/
atmospheric moisture or dust or smoke that causes reduced visibility
From this reading Through the blue haze I could see the Russian Grenadiers, with arms fixed, like motionless statues, behind their half-destroyed parapet.
not accessible to view
From this reading I can see now each soldier, his left eye fixed on us, his right hidden by his raised gun.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I can see now each soldier, his left eye fixed on us, his right hidden by his raised gun.
the act of retaining something
From this reading In an embrasure a few feet from us a man was holding a lighted fuse to a cannon.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading I shuddered, and I thought my last hour had come.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Through the blue haze I could see the Russian Grenadiers, with arms fixed, like motionless statues, behind their half-destroyed parapet.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In an embrasure a few feet from us a man was holding a lighted fuse to a cannon.
immediately past
From this reading I shuddered, and I thought my last hour had come.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading I can see now each soldier, his left eye fixed on us, his right hidden by his raised gun.
set afire or burning
From this reading In an embrasure a few feet from us a man was holding a lighted fuse to a cannon.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Through the blue haze I could see the Russian Grenadiers, with arms fixed, like motionless statues, behind their half-destroyed parapet.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading In an embrasure a few feet from us a man was holding a lighted fuse to a cannon.
not in physical motion
From this reading Through the blue haze I could see the Russian Grenadiers, with arms fixed, like motionless statues, behind their half-destroyed parapet.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I shuddered, and I thought my last hour had come.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I can see now each soldier, his left eye fixed on us, his right hidden by his raised gun.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I can see now each soldier, his left eye fixed on us, his right hidden by his raised gun.
parapetnounUS /ˈperəpet/
a low wall along the edge of a roof or balcony
From this reading Through the blue haze I could see the Russian Grenadiers, with arms fixed, like motionless statues, behind their half-destroyed parapet.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading I can see now each soldier, his left eye fixed on us, his right hidden by his raised gun.
precisely, exactly
From this reading I can see now each soldier, his left eye fixed on us, his right hidden by his raised gun.
RussiannounUS /ˈrʌʃən/
a native or inhabitant of Russia
From this reading Through the blue haze I could see the Russian Grenadiers, with arms fixed, like motionless statues, behind their half-destroyed parapet.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Through the blue haze I could see the Russian Grenadiers, with arms fixed, like motionless statues, behind their half-destroyed parapet.
shudderedverbUS /ˈʃʌdərd/
past form of “shudder” — shake, as from cold
From this reading I shuddered, and I thought my last hour had come.
an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading I can see now each soldier, his left eye fixed on us, his right hidden by his raised gun.
statuesnounUS /ˈstætʃuːz/
plural of “statue” — a sculpture representing a human or animal
From this reading Through the blue haze I could see the Russian Grenadiers, with arms fixed, like motionless statues, behind their half-destroyed parapet.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Through the blue haze I could see the Russian Grenadiers, with arms fixed, like motionless statues, behind their half-destroyed parapet.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Through the blue haze I could see the Russian Grenadiers, with arms fixed, like motionless statues, behind their half-destroyed parapet.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I shuddered, and I thought my last hour had come.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the blue haze I could see the Russian Grenadiers, with arms fixed, like motionless statues, behind their half-destroyed parapet.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In an embrasure a few feet from us a man was holding a lighted fuse to a cannon.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I can see now each soldier, his left eye fixed on us, his right hidden by his raised gun.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In an embrasure a few feet from us a man was holding a lighted fuse to a cannon.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Through the blue haze I could see the Russian Grenadiers, with arms fixed, like motionless statues, behind their half-destroyed parapet.
