used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
(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 Though, as you know, they gained one little victory, they were nigh all killed and cut to pieces.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
AntwerpnounUS /ˈæntwərp/
a busy port and financial center in northern Belgium on the Scheldt river; it has long been a center for the diamond industry and the first stock exchange was opened there in 1460
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading They were scarce joined by any of the country folk.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading "The first expeditions that the Prince of Orange made into the country were composed of German mercenaries, with a small body of exiles.
inflected form of “bear” — have
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They were scarce joined by any of the country folk.
cathedralsnounUS /kəˈθiːdrəlz/
plural of “cathedral” — any large and important church
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
churchesnounUS /ˈtʃɜːrtʃɪz/
plural of “church” — one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress
From this reading "The first expeditions that the Prince of Orange made into the country were composed of German mercenaries, with a small body of exiles.
contendverbUS /kənˈtend/
maintain or assert
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
CountriesnounUS /ˈkʌntriz/
plural of “country” — a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
crueltynounUS /ˈkruːlti/
a cruel act; a deliberate infliction of pain and suffering
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Though, as you know, they gained one little victory, they were nigh all killed and cut to pieces.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
spoiled or ruined or demolished
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
the 2nd smallest continent (actually a vast peninsula of Eurasia); the British use “Europe” to refer to all of the continent except the British Isles
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
exilesnounUS /ˈeɡzaɪlz/
plural of “exile” — a person who is voluntarily absent from home or country
From this reading "The first expeditions that the Prince of Orange made into the country were composed of German mercenaries, with a small body of exiles.
expeditionsnounUS /ˌekspəˈdɪʃənz/
plural of “expedition” — a military campaign designed to achieve a specific objective in a foreign country
From this reading "The first expeditions that the Prince of Orange made into the country were composed of German mercenaries, with a small body of exiles.
exposedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspoʊzd/
with no protection or shield
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading "The first expeditions that the Prince of Orange made into the country were composed of German mercenaries, with a small body of exiles.
people in general (often used in the plural)
From this reading They were scarce joined by any of the country folk.
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading Though, as you know, they gained one little victory, they were nigh all killed and cut to pieces.
a person of German nationality
From this reading "The first expeditions that the Prince of Orange made into the country were composed of German mercenaries, with a small body of exiles.
highest in quality
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
imagesnounUS /ˈɪmədʒəz/
plural of “image” — an iconic mental representation
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
of or relating to two people who are married to each other
From this reading They were scarce joined by any of the country folk.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading Though, as you know, they gained one little victory, they were nigh all killed and cut to pieces.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Though, as you know, they gained one little victory, they were nigh all killed and cut to pieces.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
lowestadjectiveUS /ˈloʊəst/
lowest in rank or importance
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading "The first expeditions that the Prince of Orange made into the country were composed of German mercenaries, with a small body of exiles.
madnessnounUS /ˈmædnəs/
obsolete terms for legal insanity
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
mercenariesnounUS /ˈmɜːrsəneriz/
plural of “mercenary” — a person hired to fight for another country than their own
From this reading "The first expeditions that the Prince of Orange made into the country were composed of German mercenaries, with a small body of exiles.
mobnounUS /mɑːb/
a disorderly crowd of people
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
nighadjectiveUS /naɪ/
not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances
From this reading Though, as you know, they gained one little victory, they were nigh all killed and cut to pieces.
not one, and not any
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Though, as you know, they gained one little victory, they were nigh all killed and cut to pieces.
OrangenounUS /ˈɔːrəndʒ/
round yellow to orange fruit of any of several citrus trees
From this reading "The first expeditions that the Prince of Orange made into the country were composed of German mercenaries, with a small body of exiles.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading Though, as you know, they gained one little victory, they were nigh all killed and cut to pieces.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)
From this reading "The first expeditions that the Prince of Orange made into the country were composed of German mercenaries, with a small body of exiles.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
resistancenounUS /rɪˈzɪstəns/
the action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
except for; apart from
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
only a very short time before
From this reading They were scarce joined by any of the country folk.
shrinesnounUS /ʃraɪnz/
plural of “shrine” — a place of worship hallowed by association with some sacred thing or person
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "The first expeditions that the Prince of Orange made into the country were composed of German mercenaries, with a small body of exiles.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
SpaniardsnounUS /ˈspænjərdz/
plural of “spaniard” — a native or inhabitant of Spain
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "The first expeditions that the Prince of Orange made into the country were composed of German mercenaries, with a small body of exiles.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though, as you know, they gained one little victory, they were nigh all killed and cut to pieces.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
townsnounUS /taʊnz/
plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
tumults
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading Though, as you know, they gained one little victory, they were nigh all killed and cut to pieces.
(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 people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "The first expeditions that the Prince of Orange made into the country were composed of German mercenaries, with a small body of exiles.
in or at the place that
From this reading There may have been tumults in some of the towns, as in Antwerp, where the lowest part of the mob went into the cathedrals and churches and destroyed the shrines and images; but as to armed resistance to the Spaniards, there has been none.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "The first expeditions that the Prince of Orange made into the country were composed of German mercenaries, with a small body of exiles.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The people of the Low Countries know well enough it would be madness to contend against the power of the greatest country in Europe, and to this day they have borne, and are bearing, the cruelty to which they are exposed in quiet despair, and without a thought of resistance to save their lives.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Though, as you know, they gained one little victory, they were nigh all killed and cut to pieces.
