used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
(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 Forts had been erected all round Cairo on heights dominating the town, so that a comparatively small force could overawe the population.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Forts had been erected all round Cairo on heights dominating the town, so that a comparatively small force could overawe the population.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
CaironounUS /ˈkaɪroʊ/
a town at the southern tip of Illinois at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers
From this reading Forts had been erected all round Cairo on heights dominating the town, so that a comparatively small force could overawe the population.
comparativelyadverbUS /kəmˈperətɪvli/
in a relative manner; by comparison to something else
From this reading Forts had been erected all round Cairo on heights dominating the town, so that a comparatively small force could overawe the population.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Forts had been erected all round Cairo on heights dominating the town, so that a comparatively small force could overawe the population.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
dominatingadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːməneɪtɪŋ/
most powerful or important or influential
From this reading Forts had been erected all round Cairo on heights dominating the town, so that a comparatively small force could overawe the population.
EgyptnounUS /ˈiːdʒəpt/
a republic in northeastern Africa known as the United Arab Republic until 1971; site of an ancient civilization that flourished from 2600 to 30 BC
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
endeavoured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had, in the interval, endeavoured to make himself familiar with the country.
erectedverbUS /ɪˈrektəd/
past form of “erect” — construct, build, or erect
From this reading Forts had been erected all round Cairo on heights dominating the town, so that a comparatively small force could overawe the population.
brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading He had, in the interval, endeavoured to make himself familiar with the country.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Forts had been erected all round Cairo on heights dominating the town, so that a comparatively small force could overawe the population.
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
FortsnounUS /fɔːrts/
plural of “fort” — a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading Forts had been erected all round Cairo on heights dominating the town, so that a comparatively small force could overawe the population.
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
frontiernounUS /frənˈtɪr/
a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
half-way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had, in the interval, endeavoured to make himself familiar with the country.
heightsnounUS /haɪts/
a high place
From this reading Forts had been erected all round Cairo on heights dominating the town, so that a comparatively small force could overawe the population.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He had, in the interval, endeavoured to make himself familiar with the country.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
intervalnounUS /ˈɪntərvəl/
a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading He had, in the interval, endeavoured to make himself familiar with the country.
intimationnounUS /ˌɪntəˈmeɪʃən/
an indirect suggestion
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
engage in
From this reading He had, in the interval, endeavoured to make himself familiar with the country.
NapoleonnounUS /nəˈpoʊliən/
French general who became emperor of the French (1769-1821)
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
information about recent and important events
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Forts had been erected all round Cairo on heights dominating the town, so that a comparatively small force could overawe the population.
overaweverb
subdue, restrain, or overcome by affecting with a feeling of awe; frighten (as with threats)
From this reading Forts had been erected all round Cairo on heights dominating the town, so that a comparatively small force could overawe the population.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading He himself paid two visits to Suez.
populationnounUS /ˌpɑːpjəˈleɪʃən/
the people who inhabit a territory or state
From this reading Forts had been erected all round Cairo on heights dominating the town, so that a comparatively small force could overawe the population.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Forts had been erected all round Cairo on heights dominating the town, so that a comparatively small force could overawe the population.
SIDNEYnounUS /ˈsɪdni/
English poet (1554-1586)
From this reading SIR SIDNEY SMITH.
term of address for a man
From this reading SIR SIDNEY SMITH.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Forts had been erected all round Cairo on heights dominating the town, so that a comparatively small force could overawe the population.
Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)
From this reading SIR SIDNEY SMITH.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Forts had been erected all round Cairo on heights dominating the town, so that a comparatively small force could overawe the population.
SueznounUS /ˈsuːez/
a city in northeastern Egypt at the head of the Gulf of Suez and at the southern end of the Suez Canal
From this reading He himself paid two visits to Suez.
SultannounUS /ˈsʌl.tən/
A noble monarch or supreme sovereign ruler of an Islamic country or empire.
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
SyrianounUS /ˈsɪriə/
an Asian republic in the Middle East at the east end of the Mediterranean; site of some of the world's most ancient centers of civilization
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had, in the interval, endeavoured to make himself familiar with the country.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Forts had been erected all round Cairo on heights dominating the town, so that a comparatively small force could overawe the population.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He himself paid two visits to Suez.
visitsnounUS /ˈvɪzɪts/
plural of “visit” — the act of going to see some person or place or thing for a short time
From this reading He himself paid two visits to Suez.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The first intimation that Napoleon received that the Sultan had declared war with France, was the news that an army from Syria had advanced and established itself at a fort in the desert half-way between the frontier of that country and Egypt.
