used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading But to this the American officer paid no attention.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Twenty were taken, tried at New Orleans, and hung,--the rest escaped into the cypress swamps, where it was impossible to arrest them.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
arrestverbUS /ərˈest/
take into custody
From this reading Twenty were taken, tried at New Orleans, and hung,--the rest escaped into the cypress swamps, where it was impossible to arrest them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As they had committed piracy, they were open to assault.
assaultnounUS /əˈsɔːlt/
close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
From this reading As they had committed piracy, they were open to assault.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Twenty were taken, tried at New Orleans, and hung,--the rest escaped into the cypress swamps, where it was impossible to arrest them.
attackedverbUS /əˈtækt/
past form of “attack” — launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading But to this the American officer paid no attention.
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
Barrataria
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But to this the American officer paid no attention.
cannonnounUS /ˈkænən/
a large artillery gun that is usually on wheels
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude
From this reading As they had committed piracy, they were open to assault.
cypressnounUS /ˈsaɪprəs/
wood of any of various cypress trees especially of the genus Cupressus
From this reading Twenty were taken, tried at New Orleans, and hung,--the rest escaped into the cypress swamps, where it was impossible to arrest them.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading Twenty were taken, tried at New Orleans, and hung,--the rest escaped into the cypress swamps, where it was impossible to arrest them.
followersnounUS /ˈfɑːloʊərz/
a group of followers or enthusiasts
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Twenty were taken, tried at New Orleans, and hung,--the rest escaped into the cypress swamps, where it was impossible to arrest them.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading Twenty were taken, tried at New Orleans, and hung,--the rest escaped into the cypress swamps, where it was impossible to arrest them.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Twenty were taken, tried at New Orleans, and hung,--the rest escaped into the cypress swamps, where it was impossible to arrest them.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Twenty were taken, tried at New Orleans, and hung,--the rest escaped into the cypress swamps, where it was impossible to arrest them.
a unit of electrical energy equal to the work done when a current of one ampere passes through a resistance of one ohm for one second
From this reading "Yours very respectfully, "J. LAFITTE."
LAFITTEnounUS /ləˈfɪt/
French pirate who aided the United States in the War of 1812 and received an official pardon for his crimes (1780-1826)
From this reading "Yours very respectfully, "J. LAFITTE."
Lafitte's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Twenty were taken, tried at New Orleans, and hung,--the rest escaped into the cypress swamps, where it was impossible to arrest them.
not any; not one
From this reading But to this the American officer paid no attention.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading But to this the American officer paid no attention.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading As they had committed piracy, they were open to assault.
OrleansnounUS /ˈɔːrliənz/
a city on the Loire river in north central France; site of the siege of Orleans by the English (1428-1429)
From this reading Twenty were taken, tried at New Orleans, and hung,--the rest escaped into the cypress swamps, where it was impossible to arrest them.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading But to this the American officer paid no attention.
perishverbUS /ˈperɪʃ/
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
piracynounUS /ˈpaɪrəsi/
hijacking on the high seas or in similar contexts; taking a ship or plane away from the control of those who are legally entitled to it
From this reading As they had committed piracy, they were open to assault.
on the contrary
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
respectfullyadverbUS /rɪˈspektfəli/
in a respectful manner
From this reading "Yours very respectfully, "J. LAFITTE."
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Twenty were taken, tried at New Orleans, and hung,--the rest escaped into the cypress swamps, where it was impossible to arrest them.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
stationedverbUS /ˈsteɪʃənd/
past form of “station” — assign to a station
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
surrendernounUS /sərˈendər/
acceptance of despair
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
swampsnounUS /swɑːmps/
plural of “swamp” — low land that is seasonally flooded; has more woody plants than a marsh and better drainage than a bog
From this reading Twenty were taken, tried at New Orleans, and hung,--the rest escaped into the cypress swamps, where it was impossible to arrest them.
swearingnounUS /ˈswerɪŋ/
profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Twenty were taken, tried at New Orleans, and hung,--the rest escaped into the cypress swamps, where it was impossible to arrest them.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But to this the American officer paid no attention.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Twenty were taken, tried at New Orleans, and hung,--the rest escaped into the cypress swamps, where it was impossible to arrest them.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But to this the American officer paid no attention.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But to this the American officer paid no attention.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Twenty were taken, tried at New Orleans, and hung,--the rest escaped into the cypress swamps, where it was impossible to arrest them.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading Twenty were taken, tried at New Orleans, and hung,--the rest escaped into the cypress swamps, where it was impossible to arrest them.
precisely as stated
From this reading "Yours very respectfully, "J. LAFITTE."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Twenty were taken, tried at New Orleans, and hung,--the rest escaped into the cypress swamps, where it was impossible to arrest them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading As they had committed piracy, they were open to assault.
in or at the place that
From this reading Twenty were taken, tried at New Orleans, and hung,--the rest escaped into the cypress swamps, where it was impossible to arrest them.
which person or people
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Instead, he attacked a band of Lafitte's followers, who had stationed themselves on an island near Barrataria with several cannon, swearing that they would perish rather than surrender to any man.
the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to
From this reading "Yours very respectfully, "J. LAFITTE."
