used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CASUALTIES A deep and comparatively uninjured German dug-out had been adapted for use as a dressing-station.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
adaptedadjectiveUS /əˈdæptɪd/
changed in order to improve or made more fit for a particular purpose
From this reading CASUALTIES A deep and comparatively uninjured German dug-out had been adapted for use as a dressing-station.
anew
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
in addition
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CASUALTIES A deep and comparatively uninjured German dug-out had been adapted for use as a dressing-station.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading CASUALTIES A deep and comparatively uninjured German dug-out had been adapted for use as a dressing-station.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
bearersnounUS /ˈberərz/
plural of “bearer” — someone whose employment involves carrying something
From this reading Kentucky groped his way down the dark stairway, and the bearers followed with Pug on the stretcher.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading CASUALTIES A deep and comparatively uninjured German dug-out had been adapted for use as a dressing-station.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
the people of Great Britain
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The stair was horribly steep, built in high and narrow wooden steps which were coated with thick, slippery mud, and it was with some difficulty that the stretcher was brought down.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading The stair was horribly steep, built in high and narrow wooden steps which were coated with thick, slippery mud, and it was with some difficulty that the stretcher was brought down.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
CASUALTIESnounUS /ˈkæʒəwəltiz/
plural of “casualty” — someone injured or killed or captured or missing in a military engagement
From this reading CASUALTIES A deep and comparatively uninjured German dug-out had been adapted for use as a dressing-station.
coatedadjectiveUS /ˈkoʊtəd/
having a coating; covered with an outer layer or film; often used in combination
From this reading The stair was horribly steep, built in high and narrow wooden steps which were coated with thick, slippery mud, and it was with some difficulty that the stretcher was brought down.
comparativelyadverbUS /kəmˈperətɪvli/
in a relative manner; by comparison to something else
From this reading CASUALTIES A deep and comparatively uninjured German dug-out had been adapted for use as a dressing-station.
cup-shaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Kentucky groped his way down the dark stairway, and the bearers followed with Pug on the stretcher.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading CASUALTIES A deep and comparatively uninjured German dug-out had been adapted for use as a dressing-station.
depressionnounUS /dɪˈpreʃən/
a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading The stair was horribly steep, built in high and narrow wooden steps which were coated with thick, slippery mud, and it was with some difficulty that the stretcher was brought down.
command with authority
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Kentucky groped his way down the dark stairway, and the bearers followed with Pug on the stretcher.
dressing-station
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CASUALTIES A deep and comparatively uninjured German dug-out had been adapted for use as a dressing-station.
dug-out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CASUALTIES A deep and comparatively uninjured German dug-out had been adapted for use as a dressing-station.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Kentucky groped his way down the dark stairway, and the bearers followed with Pug on the stretcher.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading CASUALTIES A deep and comparatively uninjured German dug-out had been adapted for use as a dressing-station.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
a person of German nationality
From this reading CASUALTIES A deep and comparatively uninjured German dug-out had been adapted for use as a dressing-station.
gropedverbUS /ɡroʊpt/
past form of “grope” — feel about uncertainly or blindly
From this reading Kentucky groped his way down the dark stairway, and the bearers followed with Pug on the stretcher.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading CASUALTIES A deep and comparatively uninjured German dug-out had been adapted for use as a dressing-station.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The stair was horribly steep, built in high and narrow wooden steps which were coated with thick, slippery mud, and it was with some difficulty that the stretcher was brought down.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Kentucky groped his way down the dark stairway, and the bearers followed with Pug on the stretcher.
horriblyadverbUS /ˈhɔːrəbli/
of a dreadful kind
From this reading The stair was horribly steep, built in high and narrow wooden steps which were coated with thick, slippery mud, and it was with some difficulty that the stretcher was brought down.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
KentuckynounUS /kənˈtʌki/
a state in east central United States; a border state during the American Civil War; famous for breeding race horses
From this reading Kentucky groped his way down the dark stairway, and the bearers followed with Pug on the stretcher.
set down according to a plan
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
linedadjectiveUS /laɪnd/
bordered by a line of things
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
for more time
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
the force of workers available
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
water soaked soil; soft wet earth
From this reading The stair was horribly steep, built in high and narrow wooden steps which were coated with thick, slippery mud, and it was with some difficulty that the stretcher was brought down.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The stair was horribly steep, built in high and narrow wooden steps which were coated with thick, slippery mud, and it was with some difficulty that the stretcher was brought down.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Kentucky groped his way down the dark stairway, and the bearers followed with Pug on the stretcher.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
plankverbUS /plæŋk/
cover with planks
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
planked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
PugnounUS /pʌɡ/
small compact smooth-coated breed of Asiatic origin having a tightly curled tail and broad flat wrinkled muzzle
From this reading Kentucky groped his way down the dark stairway, and the bearers followed with Pug on the stretcher.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
savingnounUS /ˈseɪvɪŋ/
an act of economizing; reduction in cost
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
shellnounUS /ʃel/
ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
slipperyadjectiveUS /ˈslɪpəri/
causing or tending to cause things to slip or slide
From this reading The stair was horribly steep, built in high and narrow wooden steps which were coated with thick, slippery mud, and it was with some difficulty that the stretcher was brought down.
slopingadjectiveUS /ˈsloʊpɪŋ/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The stair was horribly steep, built in high and narrow wooden steps which were coated with thick, slippery mud, and it was with some difficulty that the stretcher was brought down.
stairnounUS /ster/
support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
From this reading The stair was horribly steep, built in high and narrow wooden steps which were coated with thick, slippery mud, and it was with some difficulty that the stretcher was brought down.
stairwaynounUS /ˈsterweɪ/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading Kentucky groped his way down the dark stairway, and the bearers followed with Pug on the stretcher.
having a sharp inclination
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading The stair was horribly steep, built in high and narrow wooden steps which were coated with thick, slippery mud, and it was with some difficulty that the stretcher was brought down.
stretchernounUS /ˈstretʃər/
a wooden framework on which canvas is stretched and fixed for oil painting
From this reading Kentucky groped his way down the dark stairway, and the bearers followed with Pug on the stretcher.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The stair was horribly steep, built in high and narrow wooden steps which were coated with thick, slippery mud, and it was with some difficulty that the stretcher was brought down.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading The stair was horribly steep, built in high and narrow wooden steps which were coated with thick, slippery mud, and it was with some difficulty that the stretcher was brought down.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
uninjuredadjectiveUS /əˈnɪndʒərd/
not injured physically or mentally
From this reading CASUALTIES A deep and comparatively uninjured German dug-out had been adapted for use as a dressing-station.
the act of using
From this reading CASUALTIES A deep and comparatively uninjured German dug-out had been adapted for use as a dressing-station.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The stair was horribly steep, built in high and narrow wooden steps which were coated with thick, slippery mud, and it was with some difficulty that the stretcher was brought down.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Kentucky groped his way down the dark stairway, and the bearers followed with Pug on the stretcher.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
well-built
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stair opened out direct into a large, well-built dug-out with planked floor, walls and roof, and beyond it again a narrow passage led to a further room, also well built and plank lined, but much longer, and so narrow that it barely gave room for men to be laid across it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The stair was horribly steep, built in high and narrow wooden steps which were coated with thick, slippery mud, and it was with some difficulty that the stretcher was brought down.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The stair was horribly steep, built in high and narrow wooden steps which were coated with thick, slippery mud, and it was with some difficulty that the stretcher was brought down.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Its entrance lay in a little cup-shaped depression with a steep, sloping bank behind it, and the position of this bank and the entrance opening out of it away from the British lines had probably been the saving of it from shell fire.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading The stair was horribly steep, built in high and narrow wooden steps which were coated with thick, slippery mud, and it was with some difficulty that the stretcher was brought down.
