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Fort Amity
Fort Amity

Chapter XXVII

Cover illustration for Fort Amity
Context Illustration Reading 1/53 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
PRES-DE-VILLE.
Fifteen years have gone by, and a few months.
In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Fort Amity

Chapter XXVII

Reading 1/53 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
PRES-DE-VILLE.
Line 2
Fifteen years have gone by, and a few months.
Line 3
In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.
Line 4
All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.
Line 5
For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.”

Clung noun US /clung/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Fifteen years have gone by, and a few months.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.”

Short adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.”

All words in this reading · 80

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

1760

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

1775

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Fifteen years have gone by, and a few months.

ago

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.

All

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

almost

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

American

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Fifteen years have gone by, and a few months.

assailants

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.

Britain

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

British

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Fifteen years have gone by, and a few months.

Canada

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

children

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.

close

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

clungnounUS /clung/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

completely

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

day

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

daylight

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

December

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

defenders

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

desperate

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

fallen

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

few

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Fifteen years have gone by, and a few months.

Fifteen

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Fifteen years have gone by, and a few months.

fire

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

gone

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Fifteen years have gone by, and a few months.

GreatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

grip

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Fifteen years have gone by, and a few months.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

hours

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

incessantly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

kept

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

led

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.

lodgings

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

man

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.

months

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Fifteen years have gone by, and a few months.

now

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

officer

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

own

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

PRES-DE-VILLE

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading PRES-DE-VILLE.

Quebec

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

riflemen

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

rock

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

September

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

snow

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.

subject

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.

suburbs

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.

three

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

up

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

walls

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading All through December the snow had fallen almost incessantly; and almost incessantly, through the short hours of daylight, the American riflemen, from their lodgings in the suburbs close under the walls, had kept up a fire on the British defenders of Quebec.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading For the assailants of Great Britain now were her own children; and the man who led them was a British subject still, and but three years ago had been a British officer.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading In December 1775, on the rock of Quebec, Great Britain clung with a last desperate grip upon Canada, which on that September day in 1760 had passed so completely into her hands.

years

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Fifteen years have gone by, and a few months.