used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Shortly after these events we experienced rather a nasty time in the village.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
adequateadjectiveUS /ˈædəkwət/
having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Shortly after these events we experienced rather a nasty time in the village.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading ARRIVAL OF THE "JOHNSONS"--"WHERE DID THAT ONE GO?"--THE FIRST FRAGMENT DISPATCHED--THE EXODUS--WHERE?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It had been decided, way back somewhere at headquarters, that it was essential to hold the village in a stronger way than we had been doing.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading It had been decided, way back somewhere at headquarters, that it was essential to hold the village in a stronger way than we had been doing.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been decided, way back somewhere at headquarters, that it was essential to hold the village in a stronger way than we had been doing.
befallverbUS /bɪˈfɔːl/
become of; happen to
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
buildingsnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋz/
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading This meant working parties at night, and a pretty considerable collection of soldiers lurking in cavities in various ruined buildings by day.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This meant working parties at night, and a pretty considerable collection of soldiers lurking in cavities in various ruined buildings by day.
cavitiesnounUS /ˈkævɪtiz/
plural of “cavity” — a sizeable hole (usually in the ground)
From this reading This meant working parties at night, and a pretty considerable collection of soldiers lurking in cavities in various ruined buildings by day.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
collectionnounUS /kəˈlekʃən/
several things grouped together or considered as a whole
From this reading This meant working parties at night, and a pretty considerable collection of soldiers lurking in cavities in various ruined buildings by day.
large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
From this reading This meant working parties at night, and a pretty considerable collection of soldiers lurking in cavities in various ruined buildings by day.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading This meant working parties at night, and a pretty considerable collection of soldiers lurking in cavities in various ruined buildings by day.
recognizable; marked
From this reading It had been decided, way back somewhere at headquarters, that it was essential to hold the village in a stronger way than we had been doing.
defencenounUS /dɪˈfens/
(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
DIDauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading ARRIVAL OF THE "JOHNSONS"--"WHERE DID THAT ONE GO?"--THE FIRST FRAGMENT DISPATCHED--THE EXODUS--WHERE?
disasternounUS /dɪˈzæstər/
a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
DISPATCHEDverbUS /dɪˈspætʃt/
past form of “dispatch” — send away towards a designated goal
From this reading ARRIVAL OF THE "JOHNSONS"--"WHERE DID THAT ONE GO?"--THE FIRST FRAGMENT DISPATCHED--THE EXODUS--WHERE?
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading It had been decided, way back somewhere at headquarters, that it was essential to hold the village in a stronger way than we had been doing.
dugnounUS /dʌɡ/
an udder or breast or teat
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
essentialadjectiveUS /eˈsenʃəl/
absolutely necessary; vitally necessary
From this reading It had been decided, way back somewhere at headquarters, that it was essential to hold the village in a stronger way than we had been doing.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading Shortly after these events we experienced rather a nasty time in the village.
EXODUSnounUS /ˈeksədəs/
a journey by a large group to escape from a hostile environment
From this reading ARRIVAL OF THE "JOHNSONS"--"WHERE DID THAT ONE GO?"--THE FIRST FRAGMENT DISPATCHED--THE EXODUS--WHERE?
having experience; having knowledge or skill from observation or participation
From this reading Shortly after these events we experienced rather a nasty time in the village.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading ARRIVAL OF THE "JOHNSONS"--"WHERE DID THAT ONE GO?"--THE FIRST FRAGMENT DISPATCHED--THE EXODUS--WHERE?
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
formingverbUS /ˈfɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “form” — create (as an entity)
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
FRAGMENTnounUS /ˈfræɡ.mənt/
A small part broken or separated off something larger.
From this reading ARRIVAL OF THE "JOHNSONS"--"WHERE DID THAT ONE GO?"--THE FIRST FRAGMENT DISPATCHED--THE EXODUS--WHERE?
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading ARRIVAL OF THE "JOHNSONS"--"WHERE DID THAT ONE GO?"--THE FIRST FRAGMENT DISPATCHED--THE EXODUS--WHERE?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had been decided, way back somewhere at headquarters, that it was essential to hold the village in a stronger way than we had been doing.
headquartersnounUS /ˈhedkwɔːrtərz/
(usually plural) the office that serves as the administrative center of an enterprise
From this reading It had been decided, way back somewhere at headquarters, that it was essential to hold the village in a stronger way than we had been doing.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading It had been decided, way back somewhere at headquarters, that it was essential to hold the village in a stronger way than we had been doing.
ten 10s
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Shortly after these events we experienced rather a nasty time in the village.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had been decided, way back somewhere at headquarters, that it was essential to hold the village in a stronger way than we had been doing.
JOHNSONSnounUS /ˈdʒɑːnsənz/
plural of “johnson” — English writer and lexicographer (1709-1784)
From this reading ARRIVAL OF THE "JOHNSONS"--"WHERE DID THAT ONE GO?"--THE FIRST FRAGMENT DISPATCHED--THE EXODUS--WHERE?
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
lurkingverbUS /ˈlɜːrkɪŋ/
-ing form of “lurk” — lie in wait, lie in ambush, behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
From this reading This meant working parties at night, and a pretty considerable collection of soldiers lurking in cavities in various ruined buildings by day.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading This meant working parties at night, and a pretty considerable collection of soldiers lurking in cavities in various ruined buildings by day.
the force of workers available
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
nastyadjectiveUS /ˈnæsti/
offensive or even (of persons) malicious
From this reading Shortly after these events we experienced rather a nasty time in the village.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading This meant working parties at night, and a pretty considerable collection of soldiers lurking in cavities in various ruined buildings by day.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ARRIVAL OF THE "JOHNSONS"--"WHERE DID THAT ONE GO?"--THE FIRST FRAGMENT DISPATCHED--THE EXODUS--WHERE?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading ARRIVAL OF THE "JOHNSONS"--"WHERE DID THAT ONE GO?"--THE FIRST FRAGMENT DISPATCHED--THE EXODUS--WHERE?
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
plural of “party” — an organization to gain political power
From this reading This meant working parties at night, and a pretty considerable collection of soldiers lurking in cavities in various ruined buildings by day.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading This meant working parties at night, and a pretty considerable collection of soldiers lurking in cavities in various ruined buildings by day.
radiusnounUS /ˈreɪdiəs/
the length of a line segment between the center and circumference of a circle or sphere
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
on the contrary
From this reading Shortly after these events we experienced rather a nasty time in the village.
destroyed physically or morally
From this reading This meant working parties at night, and a pretty considerable collection of soldiers lurking in cavities in various ruined buildings by day.
seriesnounUS /ˈsɪriz/
similar things placed in order or happening one after another
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
for a short time
From this reading Shortly after these events we experienced rather a nasty time in the village.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading This meant working parties at night, and a pretty considerable collection of soldiers lurking in cavities in various ruined buildings by day.
in or at or to some place
From this reading It had been decided, way back somewhere at headquarters, that it was essential to hold the village in a stronger way than we had been doing.
comparative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading It had been decided, way back somewhere at headquarters, that it was essential to hold the village in a stronger way than we had been doing.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It had been decided, way back somewhere at headquarters, that it was essential to hold the village in a stronger way than we had been doing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ARRIVAL OF THE "JOHNSONS"--"WHERE DID THAT ONE GO?"--THE FIRST FRAGMENT DISPATCHED--THE EXODUS--WHERE?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ARRIVAL OF THE "JOHNSONS"--"WHERE DID THAT ONE GO?"--THE FIRST FRAGMENT DISPATCHED--THE EXODUS--WHERE?
in or at that place or location
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Shortly after these events we experienced rather a nasty time in the village.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This meant working parties at night, and a pretty considerable collection of soldiers lurking in cavities in various ruined buildings by day.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Shortly after these events we experienced rather a nasty time in the village.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It had been decided, way back somewhere at headquarters, that it was essential to hold the village in a stronger way than we had been doing.
trenchesnounUS /ˈtrentʃɪz/
plural of “trench” — a ditch dug as a fortification having a parapet of the excavated earth
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading This meant working parties at night, and a pretty considerable collection of soldiers lurking in cavities in various ruined buildings by day.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading Shortly after these events we experienced rather a nasty time in the village.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It had been decided, way back somewhere at headquarters, that it was essential to hold the village in a stronger way than we had been doing.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It had been decided, way back somewhere at headquarters, that it was essential to hold the village in a stronger way than we had been doing.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Shortly after these events we experienced rather a nasty time in the village.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
in or at the place that
From this reading ARRIVAL OF THE "JOHNSONS"--"WHERE DID THAT ONE GO?"--THE FIRST FRAGMENT DISPATCHED--THE EXODUS--WHERE?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading This meant working parties at night, and a pretty considerable collection of soldiers lurking in cavities in various ruined buildings by day.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading More men were to be kept there, and a series of trenches dug in and around it, thus forming means for an adequate defence should disaster befall our front line trenches, which lay out on a radius of about five hundred yards from the centre of the village.
