used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading MAKING A FRIEND.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A close examination would have shown that the wooden carriages on which they stood were so cracked and warped by heat that they would have fallen to pieces at the first discharge of the guns they upheld.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
bastionsnounUS /ˈbæstʃənz/
plural of “bastion” — a group that defends a principle
From this reading Two lads were standing in one of the bastions of a fort looking over the sea.
for the reason that
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A close examination would have shown that the wooden carriages on which they stood were so cracked and warped by heat that they would have fallen to pieces at the first discharge of the guns they upheld.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
carriagesnounUS /ˈkærɪdʒɪz/
plural of “carriage” — a railcar where passengers ride
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
climatenounUS /ˈklaɪmət/
the weather in some location averaged over some long period of time
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading A close examination would have shown that the wooden carriages on which they stood were so cracked and warped by heat that they would have fallen to pieces at the first discharge of the guns they upheld.
crackedadjectiveUS /krækt/
used of skin roughened as a result of cold or exposure
From this reading A close examination would have shown that the wooden carriages on which they stood were so cracked and warped by heat that they would have fallen to pieces at the first discharge of the guns they upheld.
dischargeverbUS /dɪsˈtʃɑːrdʒ/
complete or carry out
From this reading A close examination would have shown that the wooden carriages on which they stood were so cracked and warped by heat that they would have fallen to pieces at the first discharge of the guns they upheld.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
From this reading A close examination would have shown that the wooden carriages on which they stood were so cracked and warped by heat that they would have fallen to pieces at the first discharge of the guns they upheld.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading A close examination would have shown that the wooden carriages on which they stood were so cracked and warped by heat that they would have fallen to pieces at the first discharge of the guns they upheld.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading A close examination would have shown that the wooden carriages on which they stood were so cracked and warped by heat that they would have fallen to pieces at the first discharge of the guns they upheld.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading Two lads were standing in one of the bastions of a fort looking over the sea.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading MAKING A FRIEND.
guardsnounUS /ɡɑːrdz/
plural of “guard” — a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading There were neither guards nor sentinels there.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A close examination would have shown that the wooden carriages on which they stood were so cracked and warped by heat that they would have fallen to pieces at the first discharge of the guns they upheld.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading A close examination would have shown that the wooden carriages on which they stood were so cracked and warped by heat that they would have fallen to pieces at the first discharge of the guns they upheld.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Two lads were standing in one of the bastions of a fort looking over the sea.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
ladsnounUS /lædz/
plural of “lad” — a boy or man
From this reading Two lads were standing in one of the bastions of a fort looking over the sea.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Two lads were standing in one of the bastions of a fort looking over the sea.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading MAKING A FRIEND.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading There were neither guards nor sentinels there.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading There were neither guards nor sentinels there.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Two lads were standing in one of the bastions of a fort looking over the sea.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Two lads were standing in one of the bastions of a fort looking over the sea.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Two lads were standing in one of the bastions of a fort looking over the sea.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading A close examination would have shown that the wooden carriages on which they stood were so cracked and warped by heat that they would have fallen to pieces at the first discharge of the guns they upheld.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
rustsnounUS /rʌsts/
plural of “rust” — a red or brown oxide coating on iron or steel caused by the action of oxygen and moisture
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Two lads were standing in one of the bastions of a fort looking over the sea.
sentinelsnounUS /ˈsentənəlz/
plural of “sentinel” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading There were neither guards nor sentinels there.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading A close examination would have shown that the wooden carriages on which they stood were so cracked and warped by heat that they would have fallen to pieces at the first discharge of the guns they upheld.
and nothing more
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
having a supporting base
From this reading Two lads were standing in one of the bastions of a fort looking over the sea.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A close examination would have shown that the wooden carriages on which they stood were so cracked and warped by heat that they would have fallen to pieces at the first discharge of the guns they upheld.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Two lads were standing in one of the bastions of a fort looking over the sea.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were neither guards nor sentinels there.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A close examination would have shown that the wooden carriages on which they stood were so cracked and warped by heat that they would have fallen to pieces at the first discharge of the guns they upheld.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A close examination would have shown that the wooden carriages on which they stood were so cracked and warped by heat that they would have fallen to pieces at the first discharge of the guns they upheld.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two lads were standing in one of the bastions of a fort looking over the sea.
upheldverbUS /əpˈheld/
inflected form of “uphold” — keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last
From this reading A close examination would have shown that the wooden carriages on which they stood were so cracked and warped by heat that they would have fallen to pieces at the first discharge of the guns they upheld.
warpedadjectiveUS /wɔːrpt/
used especially of timbers or boards; bent out of shape usually by moisture
From this reading A close examination would have shown that the wooden carriages on which they stood were so cracked and warped by heat that they would have fallen to pieces at the first discharge of the guns they upheld.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The guns stood on their carriages, looking clean and ready for action, but this was not the result of care and attention, but simply because in so dry a climate iron rusts but little.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Two lads were standing in one of the bastions of a fort looking over the sea.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A close examination would have shown that the wooden carriages on which they stood were so cracked and warped by heat that they would have fallen to pieces at the first discharge of the guns they upheld.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading A close examination would have shown that the wooden carriages on which they stood were so cracked and warped by heat that they would have fallen to pieces at the first discharge of the guns they upheld.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A close examination would have shown that the wooden carriages on which they stood were so cracked and warped by heat that they would have fallen to pieces at the first discharge of the guns they upheld.
