used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The drone of aircraft came from above, through the holes where the rafters showed black against the sky.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The drone of aircraft came from above, through the holes where the rafters showed black against the sky.
aircraftnounUS /ˈerkræft/
a vehicle that can fly
From this reading The drone of aircraft came from above, through the holes where the rafters showed black against the sky.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES The church was half in ruins.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
backwardsadverbUS /ˈbækwərdz/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
battalionnounUS /bəˈtæljən/
an army unit usually consisting of a headquarters and three or more companies
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Ever the guns boomed savagely from beyond.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The drone of aircraft came from above, through the holes where the rafters showed black against the sky.
boomedverbUS /buːmd/
past form of “boom” — make a resonant sound, like artillery
From this reading Ever the guns boomed savagely from beyond.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The drone of aircraft came from above, through the holes where the rafters showed black against the sky.
CAPTIVESnounUS /ˈkæptɪvz/
plural of “captive” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES The church was half in ruins.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES The church was half in ruins.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
curiouslyadverbUS /ˈkjʊriəsli/
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
dronenounUS /droʊn/
stingless male bee in a colony of social bees (especially honeybees) whose sole function is to mate with the queen
From this reading The drone of aircraft came from above, through the holes where the rafters showed black against the sky.
at any time
From this reading Ever the guns boomed savagely from beyond.
forwardsadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərdz/
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The drone of aircraft came from above, through the holes where the rafters showed black against the sky.
gapingadjectiveUS /ˈɡeɪpɪŋ/
with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
a person of German nationality
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
glimpsesnounUS /ˈɡlɪmpsɪz/
plural of “glimpse” — a quick look
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
the act of departing
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Ever the guns boomed savagely from beyond.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES The church was half in ruins.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
holesnounUS /hoʊlz/
plural of “hole” — an opening into or through something
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES The church was half in ruins.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
portionsnounUS /ˈpɔːrʃənz/
plural of “portion” — something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES The church was half in ruins.
raftersnounUS /ˈræftərz/
plural of “rafter” — one of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof
From this reading The drone of aircraft came from above, through the holes where the rafters showed black against the sky.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
ruinsnounUS /ˈruːənz/
plural of “ruin” — an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES The church was half in ruins.
savagelyadverbUS /ˈsævɪdʒli/
in a vicious manner
From this reading Ever the guns boomed savagely from beyond.
sentriesnounUS /ˈsentriz/
plural of “sentry” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
shell-fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The drone of aircraft came from above, through the holes where the rafters showed black against the sky.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The drone of aircraft came from above, through the holes where the rafters showed black against the sky.
sneerverbUS /snɪr/
express through a scornful smile
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES The church was half in ruins.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
having edges that are jagged from injury
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES The church was half in ruins.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
in or at the place that
From this reading The drone of aircraft came from above, through the holes where the rafters showed black against the sky.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
