used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Word had been passed along that next morning the Rutlands were to attack.
ammunitionnounUS /ˌæmjəˈnɪʃən/
projectiles to be fired from a gun
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading Word had been passed along that next morning the Rutlands were to attack.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Word had been passed along that next morning the Rutlands were to attack.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE FIGHT FOR THE VILLAGE In the darkest hours before the dawn the trenches were buzzing with excitement.
buzzingadjectiveUS /ˈbʌzɪŋ/
noisy like the sound of a bee
From this reading THE FIGHT FOR THE VILLAGE In the darkest hours before the dawn the trenches were buzzing with excitement.
captureverbUS /ˈkæptʃər/
succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
From this reading Sir John French had ordered the capture of the village within the German lines.
past form of “command” — be in command of
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
darkestadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkəst/
superlative of “dark” — devoid of or deficient in light or brightness; shadowed or black
From this reading THE FIGHT FOR THE VILLAGE In the darkest hours before the dawn the trenches were buzzing with excitement.
the first light of day
From this reading THE FIGHT FOR THE VILLAGE In the darkest hours before the dawn the trenches were buzzing with excitement.
essentialadjectiveUS /eˈsenʃəl/
absolutely necessary; vitally necessary
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading THE FIGHT FOR THE VILLAGE In the darkest hours before the dawn the trenches were buzzing with excitement.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading THE FIGHT FOR THE VILLAGE In the darkest hours before the dawn the trenches were buzzing with excitement.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE FIGHT FOR THE VILLAGE In the darkest hours before the dawn the trenches were buzzing with excitement.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading Sir John French had ordered the capture of the village within the German lines.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
a person of German nationality
From this reading Sir John French had ordered the capture of the village within the German lines.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Word had been passed along that next morning the Rutlands were to attack.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading THE FIGHT FOR THE VILLAGE In the darkest hours before the dawn the trenches were buzzing with excitement.
improvedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvd/
made more desirable or valuable or profitable; especially made ready for use or marketing
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE FIGHT FOR THE VILLAGE In the darkest hours before the dawn the trenches were buzzing with excitement.
inactionnounUS /ˌɪˈnækʃən/
the state of being inactive
From this reading The long, trying period of inaction was over.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading Sir John French had ordered the capture of the village within the German lines.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Sir John French had ordered the capture of the village within the German lines.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The long, trying period of inaction was over.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Word had been passed along that next morning the Rutlands were to attack.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Word had been passed along that next morning the Rutlands were to attack.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The long, trying period of inaction was over.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
From this reading Sir John French had ordered the capture of the village within the German lines.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The long, trying period of inaction was over.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Word had been passed along that next morning the Rutlands were to attack.
an amount of time
From this reading The long, trying period of inaction was over.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
preliminaryadjectiveUS /prɪˈlɪməneri/
denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
reservesnounUS /rɪˈzɜːrvz/
civilians trained as soldiers but not part of the regular army
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
Rutlands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Word had been passed along that next morning the Rutlands were to attack.
term of address for a man
From this reading Sir John French had ordered the capture of the village within the German lines.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
carry out
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Word had been passed along that next morning the Rutlands were to attack.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIGHT FOR THE VILLAGE In the darkest hours before the dawn the trenches were buzzing with excitement.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Word had been passed along that next morning the Rutlands were to attack.
trenchesnounUS /ˈtrentʃɪz/
plural of “trench” — a ditch dug as a fortification having a parapet of the excavated earth
From this reading THE FIGHT FOR THE VILLAGE In the darkest hours before the dawn the trenches were buzzing with excitement.
hard to endure
From this reading The long, trying period of inaction was over.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading THE FIGHT FOR THE VILLAGE In the darkest hours before the dawn the trenches were buzzing with excitement.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The long, trying period of inaction was over.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE FIGHT FOR THE VILLAGE In the darkest hours before the dawn the trenches were buzzing with excitement.
at the time that
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE FIGHT FOR THE VILLAGE In the darkest hours before the dawn the trenches were buzzing with excitement.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Sir John French had ordered the capture of the village within the German lines.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Word had been passed along that next morning the Rutlands were to attack.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The hill on which it stood commanded a wide stretch of open country, and its possession was an essential preliminary to the general advance which would take place when the weather improved and the reserves of ammunition were completed.
