used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The enemy had learned the folly of massing their force, and Indians and whites came on in a wide open skirmish line.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading The firing began on the part of the Indians and desperadoes, who advanced upon the stronghold from four points of the compass at once.
(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 seriousness of the situation was depicted upon the faces of all the soldiers, who felt that the coming contest must decide whether or not the fort was to stand.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The attack did not come until half an hour later, and during the time of waiting the nerves of the boys were strained to the utmost.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The attack did not come until half an hour later, and during the time of waiting the nerves of the boys were strained to the utmost.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading RELIEF AT LAST--CONCLUSION.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading The attack did not come until half an hour later, and during the time of waiting the nerves of the boys were strained to the utmost.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The firing began on the part of the Indians and desperadoes, who advanced upon the stronghold from four points of the compass at once.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The attack did not come until half an hour later, and during the time of waiting the nerves of the boys were strained to the utmost.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The enemy had learned the folly of massing their force, and Indians and whites came on in a wide open skirmish line.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The attack did not come until half an hour later, and during the time of waiting the nerves of the boys were strained to the utmost.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The seriousness of the situation was depicted upon the faces of all the soldiers, who felt that the coming contest must decide whether or not the fort was to stand.
compassnounUS /ˈkʌmpəs/
navigational instrument for finding directions
From this reading The firing began on the part of the Indians and desperadoes, who advanced upon the stronghold from four points of the compass at once.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading RELIEF AT LAST--CONCLUSION.
contestnounUS /ˈkɑːntest/
an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants
From this reading The seriousness of the situation was depicted upon the faces of all the soldiers, who felt that the coming contest must decide whether or not the fort was to stand.
reach, make, or come to a decision about something
From this reading The seriousness of the situation was depicted upon the faces of all the soldiers, who felt that the coming contest must decide whether or not the fort was to stand.
depictedadjectiveUS /dɪˈpɪktəd/
represented graphically by sketch or design or lines
From this reading The seriousness of the situation was depicted upon the faces of all the soldiers, who felt that the coming contest must decide whether or not the fort was to stand.
desperadoesnounUS /ˌdespərˈɑːdoʊz/
plural of “desperado” — a bold outlaw (especially on the American frontier)
From this reading The firing began on the part of the Indians and desperadoes, who advanced upon the stronghold from four points of the compass at once.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The attack did not come until half an hour later, and during the time of waiting the nerves of the boys were strained to the utmost.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The attack did not come until half an hour later, and during the time of waiting the nerves of the boys were strained to the utmost.
an opposing military force
From this reading The enemy had learned the folly of massing their force, and Indians and whites came on in a wide open skirmish line.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The seriousness of the situation was depicted upon the faces of all the soldiers, who felt that the coming contest must decide whether or not the fort was to stand.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading The seriousness of the situation was depicted upon the faces of all the soldiers, who felt that the coming contest must decide whether or not the fort was to stand.
firingnounUS /ˈfaɪrɪŋ/
the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
From this reading The firing began on the part of the Indians and desperadoes, who advanced upon the stronghold from four points of the compass at once.
the trait of acting stupidly or rashly
From this reading The enemy had learned the folly of massing their force, and Indians and whites came on in a wide open skirmish line.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading The enemy had learned the folly of massing their force, and Indians and whites came on in a wide open skirmish line.
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading The seriousness of the situation was depicted upon the faces of all the soldiers, who felt that the coming contest must decide whether or not the fort was to stand.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading The firing began on the part of the Indians and desperadoes, who advanced upon the stronghold from four points of the compass at once.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The firing began on the part of the Indians and desperadoes, who advanced upon the stronghold from four points of the compass at once.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The enemy had learned the folly of massing their force, and Indians and whites came on in a wide open skirmish line.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading The attack did not come until half an hour later, and during the time of waiting the nerves of the boys were strained to the utmost.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading The attack did not come until half an hour later, and during the time of waiting the nerves of the boys were strained to the utmost.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The enemy had learned the folly of massing their force, and Indians and whites came on in a wide open skirmish line.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading The firing began on the part of the Indians and desperadoes, who advanced upon the stronghold from four points of the compass at once.
immediately past
From this reading RELIEF AT LAST--CONCLUSION.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading The attack did not come until half an hour later, and during the time of waiting the nerves of the boys were strained to the utmost.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading The enemy had learned the folly of massing their force, and Indians and whites came on in a wide open skirmish line.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading The enemy had learned the folly of massing their force, and Indians and whites came on in a wide open skirmish line.
massingverbUS /ˈmæsɪŋ/
-ing form of “mass” — join together into a mass or collect or form a mass
From this reading The enemy had learned the folly of massing their force, and Indians and whites came on in a wide open skirmish line.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The seriousness of the situation was depicted upon the faces of all the soldiers, who felt that the coming contest must decide whether or not the fort was to stand.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading The attack did not come until half an hour later, and during the time of waiting the nerves of the boys were strained to the utmost.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The attack did not come until half an hour later, and during the time of waiting the nerves of the boys were strained to the utmost.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The attack did not come until half an hour later, and during the time of waiting the nerves of the boys were strained to the utmost.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The firing began on the part of the Indians and desperadoes, who advanced upon the stronghold from four points of the compass at once.
on one occasion
From this reading The firing began on the part of the Indians and desperadoes, who advanced upon the stronghold from four points of the compass at once.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The enemy had learned the folly of massing their force, and Indians and whites came on in a wide open skirmish line.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The seriousness of the situation was depicted upon the faces of all the soldiers, who felt that the coming contest must decide whether or not the fort was to stand.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading The firing began on the part of the Indians and desperadoes, who advanced upon the stronghold from four points of the compass at once.
plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading The firing began on the part of the Indians and desperadoes, who advanced upon the stronghold from four points of the compass at once.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading RELIEF AT LAST--CONCLUSION.
seriousnessnounUS /ˈsɪriəsnəs/
an earnest and sincere feeling
From this reading The seriousness of the situation was depicted upon the faces of all the soldiers, who felt that the coming contest must decide whether or not the fort was to stand.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading The seriousness of the situation was depicted upon the faces of all the soldiers, who felt that the coming contest must decide whether or not the fort was to stand.
skirmishnounUS /ˈskɜːrmɪʃ/
a minor short-term fight
From this reading The enemy had learned the folly of massing their force, and Indians and whites came on in a wide open skirmish line.
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading The seriousness of the situation was depicted upon the faces of all the soldiers, who felt that the coming contest must decide whether or not the fort was to stand.
be standing; be upright
From this reading The seriousness of the situation was depicted upon the faces of all the soldiers, who felt that the coming contest must decide whether or not the fort was to stand.
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading The attack did not come until half an hour later, and during the time of waiting the nerves of the boys were strained to the utmost.
strongholdnounUS /ˈstrɔːŋhoʊld/
a strongly fortified defensive structure
From this reading The firing began on the part of the Indians and desperadoes, who advanced upon the stronghold from four points of the compass at once.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The seriousness of the situation was depicted upon the faces of all the soldiers, who felt that the coming contest must decide whether or not the fort was to stand.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The attack did not come until half an hour later, and during the time of waiting the nerves of the boys were strained to the utmost.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The enemy had learned the folly of massing their force, and Indians and whites came on in a wide open skirmish line.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The attack did not come until half an hour later, and during the time of waiting the nerves of the boys were strained to the utmost.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The attack did not come until half an hour later, and during the time of waiting the nerves of the boys were strained to the utmost.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The attack did not come until half an hour later, and during the time of waiting the nerves of the boys were strained to the utmost.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The seriousness of the situation was depicted upon the faces of all the soldiers, who felt that the coming contest must decide whether or not the fort was to stand.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading The attack did not come until half an hour later, and during the time of waiting the nerves of the boys were strained to the utmost.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading The attack did not come until half an hour later, and during the time of waiting the nerves of the boys were strained to the utmost.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The seriousness of the situation was depicted upon the faces of all the soldiers, who felt that the coming contest must decide whether or not the fort was to stand.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The attack did not come until half an hour later, and during the time of waiting the nerves of the boys were strained to the utmost.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading The seriousness of the situation was depicted upon the faces of all the soldiers, who felt that the coming contest must decide whether or not the fort was to stand.
whitesnounUS /waɪts/
plural of “white” — a Caucasian
From this reading The enemy had learned the folly of massing their force, and Indians and whites came on in a wide open skirmish line.
which person or people
From this reading The seriousness of the situation was depicted upon the faces of all the soldiers, who felt that the coming contest must decide whether or not the fort was to stand.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The enemy had learned the folly of massing their force, and Indians and whites came on in a wide open skirmish line.