used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was now a question of escaping from the flames they had been battling with.
accusednounUS /əˈkjuːzd/
a defendant in a criminal proceeding
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
plural of “adventure” — a wild and exciting undertaking (not necessarily lawful)
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The rangers, almost exhausted, were fighting the fire desperately, hoping against hope, when the cyclone--it amounted at times almost to that--struck the forest.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The rangers, almost exhausted, were fighting the fire desperately, hoping against hope, when the cyclone--it amounted at times almost to that--struck the forest.
amountedverbUS /əˈmaʊntɪd/
past form of “amount” — be tantamount or equivalent to
From this reading The rangers, almost exhausted, were fighting the fire desperately, hoping against hope, when the cyclone--it amounted at times almost to that--struck the forest.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
anticipatedadjectiveUS /ænˈtɪsəpeɪtɪd/
expected hopefully
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The rangers, almost exhausted, were fighting the fire desperately, hoping against hope, when the cyclone--it amounted at times almost to that--struck the forest.
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
battlingverbUS /ˈbætəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “battle” — battle or contend against in or as if in a battle
From this reading It was now a question of escaping from the flames they had been battling with.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was now a question of escaping from the flames they had been battling with.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Then they knew that the fight was lost for the time being.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
a person who is in charge
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
cowardicenounUS /ˈkaʊərdəs/
the trait of lacking courage
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
cyclonenounUS /sɪˈkloʊn/
(meteorology) rapid inward circulation of air masses about a low pressure center; circling counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern
From this reading The rangers, almost exhausted, were fighting the fire desperately, hoping against hope, when the cyclone--it amounted at times almost to that--struck the forest.
desperatelyadverbUS /ˈdespərətli/
with great urgency
From this reading The rangers, almost exhausted, were fighting the fire desperately, hoping against hope, when the cyclone--it amounted at times almost to that--struck the forest.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
let fall to the ground
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
escapingverbUS /ɪˈskeɪpɪŋ/
-ing form of “escape” — run away from confinement
From this reading It was now a question of escaping from the flames they had been battling with.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired; completely exhausted
From this reading The rangers, almost exhausted, were fighting the fire desperately, hoping against hope, when the cyclone--it amounted at times almost to that--struck the forest.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading Then they knew that the fight was lost for the time being.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading The rangers, almost exhausted, were fighting the fire desperately, hoping against hope, when the cyclone--it amounted at times almost to that--struck the forest.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The rangers, almost exhausted, were fighting the fire desperately, hoping against hope, when the cyclone--it amounted at times almost to that--struck the forest.
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading It was now a question of escaping from the flames they had been battling with.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Then they knew that the fight was lost for the time being.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading The rangers, almost exhausted, were fighting the fire desperately, hoping against hope, when the cyclone--it amounted at times almost to that--struck the forest.
forestersnounUS /ˈfɔːrəstərz/
plural of “forester” — English writer of adventure novels featuring Captain Horatio Hornblower (1899-1966)
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was now a question of escaping from the flames they had been battling with.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was now a question of escaping from the flames they had been battling with.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading The rangers, almost exhausted, were fighting the fire desperately, hoping against hope, when the cyclone--it amounted at times almost to that--struck the forest.
-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading The rangers, almost exhausted, were fighting the fire desperately, hoping against hope, when the cyclone--it amounted at times almost to that--struck the forest.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The rangers, almost exhausted, were fighting the fire desperately, hoping against hope, when the cyclone--it amounted at times almost to that--struck the forest.
of or relating to two people who are married to each other
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Then they knew that the fight was lost for the time being.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Then they knew that the fight was lost for the time being.
be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
mappedverbUS /mæpt/
inflected form of “map” — make a map of; show or establish the features of details of
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
the force of workers available
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
and nothing more
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was now a question of escaping from the flames they had been battling with.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was now a question of escaping from the flames they had been battling with.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading It was now a question of escaping from the flames they had been battling with.
rangersnounUS /ˈreɪndʒərz/
plural of “ranger” — a member of the Texas state highway patrol; formerly a mounted lawman who maintained order on the frontier
From this reading The rangers, almost exhausted, were fighting the fire desperately, hoping against hope, when the cyclone--it amounted at times almost to that--struck the forest.
the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading The rangers, almost exhausted, were fighting the fire desperately, hoping against hope, when the cyclone--it amounted at times almost to that--struck the forest.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The rangers, almost exhausted, were fighting the fire desperately, hoping against hope, when the cyclone--it amounted at times almost to that--struck the forest.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The rangers, almost exhausted, were fighting the fire desperately, hoping against hope, when the cyclone--it amounted at times almost to that--struck the forest.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then they knew that the fight was lost for the time being.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then they knew that the fight was lost for the time being.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading When the order came to drop everything and fall back some of the new men accused those in authority of cowardice and kept on in the course mapped out for them under entirely different conditions.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Then they knew that the fight was lost for the time being.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading The rangers, almost exhausted, were fighting the fire desperately, hoping against hope, when the cyclone--it amounted at times almost to that--struck the forest.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The rangers, almost exhausted, were fighting the fire desperately, hoping against hope, when the cyclone--it amounted at times almost to that--struck the forest.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
precisely as stated
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then they knew that the fight was lost for the time being.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The rangers, almost exhausted, were fighting the fire desperately, hoping against hope, when the cyclone--it amounted at times almost to that--struck the forest.
at the time that
From this reading The rangers, almost exhausted, were fighting the fire desperately, hoping against hope, when the cyclone--it amounted at times almost to that--struck the forest.
which person or people
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was now a question of escaping from the flames they had been battling with.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The chief foresters knew very well that there was a way to safety, but they had under their command many rangers who had joined the service merely for the adventures they anticipated meeting, and these, they understood, would be hard to manage.
