used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A second of the protecting forts had fallen, smashed and pulverised under the hail of devastating steel....
in the past
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MID-STREAM The morning paper had been brought in to Dodo with her letters, and she opened it quickly at the middle page.
assaultnounUS /əˈsɔːlt/
close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
From this reading The German assault on Verdun was being pressed ever more fiercely; it seemed impossible that the town could hold out much longer.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading MID-STREAM The morning paper had been brought in to Dodo with her letters, and she opened it quickly at the middle page.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading MID-STREAM The morning paper had been brought in to Dodo with her letters, and she opened it quickly at the middle page.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The German assault on Verdun was being pressed ever more fiercely; it seemed impossible that the town could hold out much longer.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading MID-STREAM The morning paper had been brought in to Dodo with her letters, and she opened it quickly at the middle page.
CentraladjectiveUS /ˈsentrəl/
serving as an essential component
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The German assault on Verdun was being pressed ever more fiercely; it seemed impossible that the town could hold out much longer.
devastatingadjectiveUS /ˈdevəsteɪtɪŋ/
making light of
From this reading A second of the protecting forts had fallen, smashed and pulverised under the hail of devastating steel....
DodonounUS /ˈdoʊdoʊ/
someone whose style is out of fashion
From this reading MID-STREAM The morning paper had been brought in to Dodo with her letters, and she opened it quickly at the middle page.
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 It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
at any time
From this reading The German assault on Verdun was being pressed ever more fiercely; it seemed impossible that the town could hold out much longer.
to or in any or all places
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading A second of the protecting forts had fallen, smashed and pulverised under the hail of devastating steel....
fiercelyadverbUS /ˈfɪrsli/
in a physically fierce manner
From this reading The German assault on Verdun was being pressed ever more fiercely; it seemed impossible that the town could hold out much longer.
fortsnounUS /fɔːrts/
plural of “fort” — a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading A second of the protecting forts had fallen, smashed and pulverised under the hail of devastating steel....
a person of German nationality
From this reading The German assault on Verdun was being pressed ever more fiercely; it seemed impossible that the town could hold out much longer.
gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading MID-STREAM The morning paper had been brought in to Dodo with her letters, and she opened it quickly at the middle page.
hailverbUS /heɪl/
praise vociferously
From this reading A second of the protecting forts had fallen, smashed and pulverised under the hail of devastating steel....
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading MID-STREAM The morning paper had been brought in to Dodo with her letters, and she opened it quickly at the middle page.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The German assault on Verdun was being pressed ever more fiercely; it seemed impossible that the town could hold out much longer.
impenetrableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpenətrəbəl/
not admitting of penetration or passage into or through
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading The German assault on Verdun was being pressed ever more fiercely; it seemed impossible that the town could hold out much longer.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MID-STREAM The morning paper had been brought in to Dodo with her letters, and she opened it quickly at the middle page.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading MID-STREAM The morning paper had been brought in to Dodo with her letters, and she opened it quickly at the middle page.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
plural of “land” — the land on which real estate is located
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
the literary culture
From this reading MID-STREAM The morning paper had been brought in to Dodo with her letters, and she opened it quickly at the middle page.
for more time
From this reading The German assault on Verdun was being pressed ever more fiercely; it seemed impossible that the town could hold out much longer.
MID-STREAM
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MID-STREAM The morning paper had been brought in to Dodo with her letters, and she opened it quickly at the middle page.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading MID-STREAM The morning paper had been brought in to Dodo with her letters, and she opened it quickly at the middle page.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The German assault on Verdun was being pressed ever more fiercely; it seemed impossible that the town could hold out much longer.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading MID-STREAM The morning paper had been brought in to Dodo with her letters, and she opened it quickly at the middle page.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The German assault on Verdun was being pressed ever more fiercely; it seemed impossible that the town could hold out much longer.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
information about recent and important events
From this reading Dodo read no more than the summary of the news.
not any; not one
From this reading Dodo read no more than the summary of the news.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A second of the protecting forts had fallen, smashed and pulverised under the hail of devastating steel....
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The German assault on Verdun was being pressed ever more fiercely; it seemed impossible that the town could hold out much longer.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading MID-STREAM The morning paper had been brought in to Dodo with her letters, and she opened it quickly at the middle page.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The German assault on Verdun was being pressed ever more fiercely; it seemed impossible that the town could hold out much longer.
one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading MID-STREAM The morning paper had been brought in to Dodo with her letters, and she opened it quickly at the middle page.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading MID-STREAM The morning paper had been brought in to Dodo with her letters, and she opened it quickly at the middle page.
past form of “pour” — cause to run
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
compacted by ironing
From this reading The German assault on Verdun was being pressed ever more fiercely; it seemed impossible that the town could hold out much longer.
protectingadjectiveUS /prəˈtektɪŋ/
shielding (or designed to shield) against harm or discomfort
From this reading A second of the protecting forts had fallen, smashed and pulverised under the hail of devastating steel....
pulverisedadjective
consisting of fine particles
From this reading A second of the protecting forts had fallen, smashed and pulverised under the hail of devastating steel....
with speed
From this reading MID-STREAM The morning paper had been brought in to Dodo with her letters, and she opened it quickly at the middle page.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading Dodo read no more than the summary of the news.
risenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪzən/
(of e.g. celestial bodies) above the horizon
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading A second of the protecting forts had fallen, smashed and pulverised under the hail of devastating steel....
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The German assault on Verdun was being pressed ever more fiercely; it seemed impossible that the town could hold out much longer.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading MID-STREAM The morning paper had been brought in to Dodo with her letters, and she opened it quickly at the middle page.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
smashedadjectiveUS /smæʃt/
very drunk
From this reading A second of the protecting forts had fallen, smashed and pulverised under the hail of devastating steel....
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading A second of the protecting forts had fallen, smashed and pulverised under the hail of devastating steel....
not in physical motion
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
summarynounUS /ˈsʌməri/
a brief statement that presents the main points in a concise form
From this reading Dodo read no more than the summary of the news.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Dodo read no more than the summary of the news.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The German assault on Verdun was being pressed ever more fiercely; it seemed impossible that the town could hold out much longer.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MID-STREAM The morning paper had been brought in to Dodo with her letters, and she opened it quickly at the middle page.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MID-STREAM The morning paper had been brought in to Dodo with her letters, and she opened it quickly at the middle page.
torrentsnounUS /ˈtɔːrənts/
plural of “torrent” — a heavy rain
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The German assault on Verdun was being pressed ever more fiercely; it seemed impossible that the town could hold out much longer.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading A second of the protecting forts had fallen, smashed and pulverised under the hail of devastating steel....
VerdunnounUS /ˈvɜːrdən/
a battle in World War I (1916); in some of the bloodiest fighting in World War I the German offensive was stopped
From this reading The German assault on Verdun was being pressed ever more fiercely; it seemed impossible that the town could hold out much longer.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The German assault on Verdun was being pressed ever more fiercely; it seemed impossible that the town could hold out much longer.
in the company of; together with
From this reading MID-STREAM The morning paper had been brought in to Dodo with her letters, and she opened it quickly at the middle page.
a late time of life
From this reading It was bad everywhere; there was not a single gleam of sun shining through that impenetrable black cloud that had risen out of Central Europe nearly two years ago, and still poured its torrents on to broken lands.
