used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
abruptadjectiveUS /əˈbrʌpt/
marked by sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions
From this reading Out on the North Dock at West Point the column of cadets had marched, and now, at the word, came to an abrupt stop.
AcademynounUS /əˈkæd.ə.mi/
A place of study or training in a special field of knowledge and arts.
From this reading This detachment, made up of members of the first and third classes in the United States Military Academy, was out on this August forenoon for instruction in actual military engineering.
highly skilled
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading This detachment, made up of members of the first and third classes in the United States Military Academy, was out on this August forenoon for instruction in actual military engineering.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Out on the North Dock at West Point the column of cadets had marched, and now, at the word, came to an abrupt stop.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Out on the North Dock at West Point the column of cadets had marched, and now, at the word, came to an abrupt stop.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
the month following July and preceding September
From this reading This detachment, made up of members of the first and third classes in the United States Military Academy, was out on this August forenoon for instruction in actual military engineering.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
cadetsnounUS /kəˈdets/
plural of “cadet” — a military trainee (as at a military academy)
From this reading Out on the North Dock at West Point the column of cadets had marched, and now, at the word, came to an abrupt stop.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Out on the North Dock at West Point the column of cadets had marched, and now, at the word, came to an abrupt stop.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
classesnounUS /ˈklæsəz/
plural of “class” — a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading This detachment, made up of members of the first and third classes in the United States Military Academy, was out on this August forenoon for instruction in actual military engineering.
columnnounUS /ˈkɑːləm/
a line of units following one after another
From this reading Out on the North Dock at West Point the column of cadets had marched, and now, at the word, came to an abrupt stop.
past form of “command” — be in command of
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
DetachmentnounUS /dɪˈtætʃmənt/
avoiding emotional involvement
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
someone who is a detective
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
DocknounUS /dɑːk/
an enclosure in a court of law where the defendant sits during the trial
From this reading Out on the North Dock at West Point the column of cadets had marched, and now, at the word, came to an abrupt stop.
let fall to the ground
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
engineernounUS /ˈendʒəˈnɪr/
a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
engineeringnounUS /ˈendʒəˈnɪrɪŋ/
the practical application of technical and scientific knowledge to commerce or industry
From this reading This detachment, made up of members of the first and third classes in the United States Military Academy, was out on this August forenoon for instruction in actual military engineering.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading This detachment, made up of members of the first and third classes in the United States Military Academy, was out on this August forenoon for instruction in actual military engineering.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
forenoonnoun
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading This detachment, made up of members of the first and third classes in the United States Military Academy, was out on this August forenoon for instruction in actual military engineering.
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Out on the North Dock at West Point the column of cadets had marched, and now, at the word, came to an abrupt stop.
haltverbUS /hɔːlt/
cause to stop
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
HudsonnounUS /ˈhʌdsən/
a New York river; flows southward into New York Bay; explored by Henry Hudson early in the 17th century
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
ten 10s
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
indentationnounUS /ˌɪndenˈteɪʃən/
a concave cut into a surface or edge (as in a coastline)
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
instructionnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃən/
a message describing how something is to be done
From this reading This detachment, made up of members of the first and third classes in the United States Military Academy, was out on this August forenoon for instruction in actual military engineering.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading This detachment, made up of members of the first and third classes in the United States Military Academy, was out on this August forenoon for instruction in actual military engineering.
marchedverbUS /mɑːrtʃt/
past form of “march” — march in a procession
From this reading Out on the North Dock at West Point the column of cadets had marched, and now, at the word, came to an abrupt stop.
plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading This detachment, made up of members of the first and third classes in the United States Military Academy, was out on this August forenoon for instruction in actual military engineering.
of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare
From this reading This detachment, made up of members of the first and third classes in the United States Military Academy, was out on this August forenoon for instruction in actual military engineering.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "Mr. Prescott!"
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Out on the North Dock at West Point the column of cadets had marched, and now, at the word, came to an abrupt stop.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Out on the North Dock at West Point the column of cadets had marched, and now, at the word, came to an abrupt stop.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Out on the North Dock at West Point the column of cadets had marched, and now, at the word, came to an abrupt stop.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Out on the North Dock at West Point the column of cadets had marched, and now, at the word, came to an abrupt stop.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Out on the North Dock at West Point the column of cadets had marched, and now, at the word, came to an abrupt stop.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
pontoonnounUS /pɑːnˈtuːn/
(nautical) a floating structure (as a flat-bottomed boat) that serves as a dock or to support a bridge
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
PrescottnounUS /ˈpreskɑːt/
a town in central Arizona
From this reading "Mr. Prescott!"
PRESCOTT'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
representingverbUS /ˌreprɪˈzentɪŋ/
-ing form of “represent” — take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
scantadjectiveUS /skænt/
less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading This detachment, made up of members of the first and third classes in the United States Military Academy, was out on this August forenoon for instruction in actual military engineering.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading Out on the North Dock at West Point the column of cadets had marched, and now, at the word, came to an abrupt stop.
StrapsnounUS /stræps/
plural of “strap” — an elongated leather strip (or a strip of similar material) for binding things together or holding something in position
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading This detachment, made up of members of the first and third classes in the United States Military Academy, was out on this August forenoon for instruction in actual military engineering.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This detachment, made up of members of the first and third classes in the United States Military Academy, was out on this August forenoon for instruction in actual military engineering.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
unfordable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
UnitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/
characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity
From this reading This detachment, made up of members of the first and third classes in the United States Military Academy, was out on this August forenoon for instruction in actual military engineering.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading This detachment, made up of members of the first and third classes in the United States Military Academy, was out on this August forenoon for instruction in actual military engineering.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This detachment, made up of members of the first and third classes in the United States Military Academy, was out on this August forenoon for instruction in actual military engineering.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, in theory, an unfordable river.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Out on the North Dock at West Point the column of cadets had marched, and now, at the word, came to an abrupt stop.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT or Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps "Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
