used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE RACE OF THE GOSHAWK A long day had passed and a dark night had come.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Something appeared to be weighing it down, as if it might be loaded with the great events which were about to come.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The air of it was hot and sultry over all the regions around the Gulf of Mexico.
(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 The air of it was hot and sultry over all the regions around the Gulf of Mexico.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading This was already partly in ruins, and the besiegers had good reasons for their expectation that in due season they were to see the Stars and Stripes come down from the shattered rampart.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE RACE OF THE GOSHAWK A long day had passed and a dark night had come.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Something appeared to be weighing it down, as if it might be loaded with the great events which were about to come.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The air of it was hot and sultry over all the regions around the Gulf of Mexico.
artillerynounUS /ɑːrˈtɪləri/
large but transportable armament
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Something appeared to be weighing it down, as if it might be loaded with the great events which were about to come.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Something appeared to be weighing it down, as if it might be loaded with the great events which were about to come.
besiegedadjectiveUS /bɪˈsiːdʒd/
surrounded by hostile forces
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
besiegers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was already partly in ruins, and the besiegers had good reasons for their expectation that in due season they were to see the Stars and Stripes come down from the shattered rampart.
bravelyadverbUS /ˈbreɪvli/
in a courageous manner
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
cannonnounUS /ˈkænən/
a large artillery gun that is usually on wheels
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE RACE OF THE GOSHAWK A long day had passed and a dark night had come.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading THE RACE OF THE GOSHAWK A long day had passed and a dark night had come.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE RACE OF THE GOSHAWK A long day had passed and a dark night had come.
defendedverbUS /dɪˈfendəd/
past form of “defend” — argue or speak in defense of
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Something appeared to be weighing it down, as if it might be loaded with the great events which were about to come.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading This was already partly in ruins, and the besiegers had good reasons for their expectation that in due season they were to see the Stars and Stripes come down from the shattered rampart.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading Something appeared to be weighing it down, as if it might be loaded with the great events which were about to come.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
expectationnounUS /ˌekspekˈteɪʃən/
belief about (or mental picture of) the future
From this reading This was already partly in ruins, and the besiegers had good reasons for their expectation that in due season they were to see the Stars and Stripes come down from the shattered rampart.
flashesnounUS /ˈflæʃɪz/
plural of “flash” — a sudden intense burst of radiant energy
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This was already partly in ruins, and the besiegers had good reasons for their expectation that in due season they were to see the Stars and Stripes come down from the shattered rampart.
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
fortressnounUS /ˈfɔːrtrəs/
a fortified defensive structure
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This was already partly in ruins, and the besiegers had good reasons for their expectation that in due season they were to see the Stars and Stripes come down from the shattered rampart.
depressingly dark
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading This was already partly in ruins, and the besiegers had good reasons for their expectation that in due season they were to see the Stars and Stripes come down from the shattered rampart.
GOSHAWKnounUS /ˈɡɑːshɔːk/
large hawk of Eurasia and North America used in falconry
From this reading THE RACE OF THE GOSHAWK A long day had passed and a dark night had come.
Grande
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Something appeared to be weighing it down, as if it might be loaded with the great events which were about to come.
GulfnounUS /ɡʌlf/
an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay
From this reading The air of it was hot and sultry over all the regions around the Gulf of Mexico.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE RACE OF THE GOSHAWK A long day had passed and a dark night had come.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading The air of it was hot and sultry over all the regions around the Gulf of Mexico.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Something appeared to be weighing it down, as if it might be loaded with the great events which were about to come.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This was already partly in ruins, and the besiegers had good reasons for their expectation that in due season they were to see the Stars and Stripes come down from the shattered rampart.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The air of it was hot and sultry over all the regions around the Gulf of Mexico.
loadedadjectiveUS /ˈloʊdɪd/
filled with a great quantity
From this reading Something appeared to be weighing it down, as if it might be loaded with the great events which were about to come.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading THE RACE OF THE GOSHAWK A long day had passed and a dark night had come.
MexicannounUS /ˈmeksəkən/
a native or inhabitant of Mexico
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
MexiconounUS /ˈmeksəkoʊ/
a republic in southern North America; became independent from Spain in 1810
From this reading The air of it was hot and sultry over all the regions around the Gulf of Mexico.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Something appeared to be weighing it down, as if it might be loaded with the great events which were about to come.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE RACE OF THE GOSHAWK A long day had passed and a dark night had come.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE RACE OF THE GOSHAWK A long day had passed and a dark night had come.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The air of it was hot and sultry over all the regions around the Gulf of Mexico.
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading This was already partly in ruins, and the besiegers had good reasons for their expectation that in due season they were to see the Stars and Stripes come down from the shattered rampart.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading THE RACE OF THE GOSHAWK A long day had passed and a dark night had come.
any competition
From this reading THE RACE OF THE GOSHAWK A long day had passed and a dark night had come.
rampartnounUS /ˈræmpɑːrt/
an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
From this reading This was already partly in ruins, and the besiegers had good reasons for their expectation that in due season they were to see the Stars and Stripes come down from the shattered rampart.
plural of “reason” — a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading This was already partly in ruins, and the besiegers had good reasons for their expectation that in due season they were to see the Stars and Stripes come down from the shattered rampart.
regionsnounUS /ˈriːdʒənz/
plural of “region” — the extended spatial location of something
From this reading The air of it was hot and sultry over all the regions around the Gulf of Mexico.
responsesnounUS /rɪˈspɑːnsɪz/
plural of “response” — a result
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
RionounUS /ˈriːoʊ/
the former capital and 2nd largest city of Brazil; chief Brazilian port; famous as a tourist attraction
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
ruinsnounUS /ˈruːənz/
plural of “ruin” — an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading This was already partly in ruins, and the besiegers had good reasons for their expectation that in due season they were to see the Stars and Stripes come down from the shattered rampart.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading This was already partly in ruins, and the besiegers had good reasons for their expectation that in due season they were to see the Stars and Stripes come down from the shattered rampart.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading This was already partly in ruins, and the besiegers had good reasons for their expectation that in due season they were to see the Stars and Stripes come down from the shattered rampart.
shatteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃætərd/
ruined or disrupted
From this reading This was already partly in ruins, and the besiegers had good reasons for their expectation that in due season they were to see the Stars and Stripes come down from the shattered rampart.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Something appeared to be weighing it down, as if it might be loaded with the great events which were about to come.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading This was already partly in ruins, and the besiegers had good reasons for their expectation that in due season they were to see the Stars and Stripes come down from the shattered rampart.
StripesnounUS /straɪps/
V-shaped sleeve badge indicating military rank and service
From this reading This was already partly in ruins, and the besiegers had good reasons for their expectation that in due season they were to see the Stars and Stripes come down from the shattered rampart.
sultryadjectiveUS /ˈsʌltri/
sexually exciting or gratifying
From this reading The air of it was hot and sultry over all the regions around the Gulf of Mexico.
TexasnounUS /ˈteksəs/
the second largest state; located in southwestern United States on the Gulf of Mexico
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This was already partly in ruins, and the besiegers had good reasons for their expectation that in due season they were to see the Stars and Stripes come down from the shattered rampart.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RACE OF THE GOSHAWK A long day had passed and a dark night had come.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading This was already partly in ruins, and the besiegers had good reasons for their expectation that in due season they were to see the Stars and Stripes come down from the shattered rampart.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This was already partly in ruins, and the besiegers had good reasons for their expectation that in due season they were to see the Stars and Stripes come down from the shattered rampart.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was already partly in ruins, and the besiegers had good reasons for their expectation that in due season they were to see the Stars and Stripes come down from the shattered rampart.
thundersnounUS /ˈθʌndərz/
plural of “thunder” — a deep prolonged loud noise
From this reading It was gloomy enough at and around the besieged American fort on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, but every now and then the darkness and the silence were broken by the flashes and thunders of the Mexican artillery, and the responses of the cannon of the bravely defended fortress.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Something appeared to be weighing it down, as if it might be loaded with the great events which were about to come.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The air of it was hot and sultry over all the regions around the Gulf of Mexico.
weighingnounUS /ˈweɪɪŋ/
careful consideration
From this reading Something appeared to be weighing it down, as if it might be loaded with the great events which were about to come.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Something appeared to be weighing it down, as if it might be loaded with the great events which were about to come.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Something appeared to be weighing it down, as if it might be loaded with the great events which were about to come.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Something appeared to be weighing it down, as if it might be loaded with the great events which were about to come.
