used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It may be doubted whether the awful bombardment of Cadiz was a necessity of war.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading A bombardment is always a cruel undertaking, and often seems positively cowardly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "For honour, glory, and the laws, Is native courage given; And he who fights his country's cause, Fights in the cause of Heaven."--DIBDIN.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading It may be doubted whether the awful bombardment of Cadiz was a necessity of war.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It may be doubted whether the awful bombardment of Cadiz was a necessity of war.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading BEFORE CADIZ.
bombardmentnounUS /bɑːmˈbɑːrdmənt/
the rapid and continuous delivery of linguistic communication (spoken or written)
From this reading It may be doubted whether the awful bombardment of Cadiz was a necessity of war.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Sir John had one particular reason of his own, independent of exigency, for this cannonade.
CADIZnounUS /kəˈdiːz/
an ancient port city in southwestern Spain
From this reading BEFORE CADIZ.
cannonadenoun
intense and continuous artillery fire
From this reading But Sir John had one particular reason of his own, independent of exigency, for this cannonade.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading "For honour, glory, and the laws, Is native courage given; And he who fights his country's cause, Fights in the cause of Heaven."--DIBDIN.
country'snounUS /ˈkʌntriz/
possessive form of “country” — a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading "For honour, glory, and the laws, Is native courage given; And he who fights his country's cause, Fights in the cause of Heaven."--DIBDIN.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading "For honour, glory, and the laws, Is native courage given; And he who fights his country's cause, Fights in the cause of Heaven."--DIBDIN.
cowardlyadjectiveUS /ˈkaʊərdli/
lacking courage; ignobly timid and faint-hearted
From this reading A bombardment is always a cruel undertaking, and often seems positively cowardly.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading A bombardment is always a cruel undertaking, and often seems positively cowardly.
DIBDIN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "For honour, glory, and the laws, Is native courage given; And he who fights his country's cause, Fights in the cause of Heaven."--DIBDIN.
doubtedverbUS /ˈdaʊtɪd/
past form of “doubt” — consider unlikely or have doubts about
From this reading It may be doubted whether the awful bombardment of Cadiz was a necessity of war.
exigencynounUS /ˌekˈsɪdʒənsi/
a pressing or urgent situation
From this reading But Sir John had one particular reason of his own, independent of exigency, for this cannonade.
fightsnounUS /faɪts/
plural of “fight” — a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading "For honour, glory, and the laws, Is native courage given; And he who fights his country's cause, Fights in the cause of Heaven."--DIBDIN.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "For honour, glory, and the laws, Is native courage given; And he who fights his country's cause, Fights in the cause of Heaven."--DIBDIN.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading "For honour, glory, and the laws, Is native courage given; And he who fights his country's cause, Fights in the cause of Heaven."--DIBDIN.
a state of high honor
From this reading "For honour, glory, and the laws, Is native courage given; And he who fights his country's cause, Fights in the cause of Heaven."--DIBDIN.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But Sir John had one particular reason of his own, independent of exigency, for this cannonade.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "For honour, glory, and the laws, Is native courage given; And he who fights his country's cause, Fights in the cause of Heaven."--DIBDIN.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading "For honour, glory, and the laws, Is native courage given; And he who fights his country's cause, Fights in the cause of Heaven."--DIBDIN.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "For honour, glory, and the laws, Is native courage given; And he who fights his country's cause, Fights in the cause of Heaven."--DIBDIN.
the state of being honored
From this reading "For honour, glory, and the laws, Is native courage given; And he who fights his country's cause, Fights in the cause of Heaven."--DIBDIN.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "For honour, glory, and the laws, Is native courage given; And he who fights his country's cause, Fights in the cause of Heaven."--DIBDIN.
independentadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈpendənt/
free from external control and constraint
From this reading But Sir John had one particular reason of his own, independent of exigency, for this cannonade.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "For honour, glory, and the laws, Is native courage given; And he who fights his country's cause, Fights in the cause of Heaven."--DIBDIN.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It may be doubted whether the awful bombardment of Cadiz was a necessity of war.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading But Sir John had one particular reason of his own, independent of exigency, for this cannonade.
the first of three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures comprising the first five books of the Hebrew Bible considered as a unit
From this reading "For honour, glory, and the laws, Is native courage given; And he who fights his country's cause, Fights in the cause of Heaven."--DIBDIN.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It may be doubted whether the awful bombardment of Cadiz was a necessity of war.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading "For honour, glory, and the laws, Is native courage given; And he who fights his country's cause, Fights in the cause of Heaven."--DIBDIN.
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading It may be doubted whether the awful bombardment of Cadiz was a necessity of war.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "For honour, glory, and the laws, Is native courage given; And he who fights his country's cause, Fights in the cause of Heaven."--DIBDIN.
many times at short intervals
From this reading A bombardment is always a cruel undertaking, and often seems positively cowardly.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But Sir John had one particular reason of his own, independent of exigency, for this cannonade.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading But Sir John had one particular reason of his own, independent of exigency, for this cannonade.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading But Sir John had one particular reason of his own, independent of exigency, for this cannonade.
positivelyadverbUS /ˈpɑːzətɪvli/
extremely
From this reading A bombardment is always a cruel undertaking, and often seems positively cowardly.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading But Sir John had one particular reason of his own, independent of exigency, for this cannonade.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A bombardment is always a cruel undertaking, and often seems positively cowardly.
term of address for a man
From this reading But Sir John had one particular reason of his own, independent of exigency, for this cannonade.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "For honour, glory, and the laws, Is native courage given; And he who fights his country's cause, Fights in the cause of Heaven."--DIBDIN.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But Sir John had one particular reason of his own, independent of exigency, for this cannonade.
undertakingnounUS /ˈʌndərteɪkɪŋ/
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading A bombardment is always a cruel undertaking, and often seems positively cowardly.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading It may be doubted whether the awful bombardment of Cadiz was a necessity of war.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It may be doubted whether the awful bombardment of Cadiz was a necessity of war.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading It may be doubted whether the awful bombardment of Cadiz was a necessity of war.
which person or people
From this reading "For honour, glory, and the laws, Is native courage given; And he who fights his country's cause, Fights in the cause of Heaven."--DIBDIN.
