used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A Boy's Adventures in Nova Scotia AUTHOR OF 'DONALBLANE OF DARIEN,' 'A BOY OF THE BANKS,' 'NORMAN'S NUGGET,' ETC.
plural of “adventure” — a wild and exciting undertaking (not necessarily lawful)
From this reading A Boy's Adventures in Nova Scotia AUTHOR OF 'DONALBLANE OF DARIEN,' 'A BOY OF THE BANKS,' 'NORMAN'S NUGGET,' ETC.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading A Boy's Adventures in Nova Scotia AUTHOR OF 'DONALBLANE OF DARIEN,' 'A BOY OF THE BANKS,' 'NORMAN'S NUGGET,' ETC.
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading Nearly one-half of the population of the city died during the siege, and those who survived formed a gaunt, haggard, miserable band, more like scarecrows than human beings.
English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)
From this reading A Boy's Adventures in Nova Scotia AUTHOR OF 'DONALBLANE OF DARIEN,' 'A BOY OF THE BANKS,' 'NORMAN'S NUGGET,' ETC.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
beingsnounUS /ˈbiːɪŋz/
plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing
From this reading Nearly one-half of the population of the city died during the siege, and those who survived formed a gaunt, haggard, miserable band, more like scarecrows than human beings.
blightnounUS /blaɪt/
a state or condition being blighted
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
a youthful male person
From this reading A Boy's Adventures in Nova Scotia AUTHOR OF 'DONALBLANE OF DARIEN,' 'A BOY OF THE BANKS,' 'NORMAN'S NUGGET,' ETC.
Boy'snounUS /bɔɪz/
possessive form of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading A Boy's Adventures in Nova Scotia AUTHOR OF 'DONALBLANE OF DARIEN,' 'A BOY OF THE BANKS,' 'NORMAN'S NUGGET,' ETC.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
(Roman Catholic Church) one of a group of more than 100 prominent bishops in the Sacred College who advise the Pope and elect new Popes
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
chaptersnounUS /ˈtʃæptərz/
plural of “chapter” — a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
DARIEN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Boy's Adventures in Nova Scotia AUTHOR OF 'DONALBLANE OF DARIEN,' 'A BOY OF THE BANKS,' 'NORMAN'S NUGGET,' ETC.
defencenounUS /dɪˈfens/
(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
defiedverbUS /dɪˈfaɪd/
inflected form of “defy” — resist or confront with resistance
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading Nearly one-half of the population of the city died during the siege, and those who survived formed a gaunt, haggard, miserable band, more like scarecrows than human beings.
DONALBLANE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Boy's Adventures in Nova Scotia AUTHOR OF 'DONALBLANE OF DARIEN,' 'A BOY OF THE BANKS,' 'NORMAN'S NUGGET,' ETC.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Nearly one-half of the population of the city died during the siege, and those who survived formed a gaunt, haggard, miserable band, more like scarecrows than human beings.
enduredverbUS /enˈdjʊrd/
past form of “endure” — put up with something or somebody unpleasant
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
ETC
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Boy's Adventures in Nova Scotia AUTHOR OF 'DONALBLANE OF DARIEN,' 'A BOY OF THE BANKS,' 'NORMAN'S NUGGET,' ETC.
at any time
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading Nearly one-half of the population of the city died during the siege, and those who survived formed a gaunt, haggard, miserable band, more like scarecrows than human beings.
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
gauntadjectiveUS /ɡɔːnt/
very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold
From this reading Nearly one-half of the population of the city died during the siege, and those who survived formed a gaunt, haggard, miserable band, more like scarecrows than human beings.
haggardadjectiveUS /ˈhæɡərd/
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Nearly one-half of the population of the city died during the siege, and those who survived formed a gaunt, haggard, miserable band, more like scarecrows than human beings.
handfulnounUS /ˈhændfʊl/
a small number or amount
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
heroicadjectiveUS /hɪˈroʊɪk/
very imposing or impressive; surpassing the ordinary (especially in size or scale)
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
HuguenotsnounUS /ˈhjuːɡənɑːts/
plural of “huguenot” — a French Calvinist of the 16th or 17th centuries
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Nearly one-half of the population of the city died during the siege, and those who survived formed a gaunt, haggard, miserable band, more like scarecrows than human beings.
a physiological need for food; the consequence of food deprivation
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A Boy's Adventures in Nova Scotia AUTHOR OF 'DONALBLANE OF DARIEN,' 'A BOY OF THE BANKS,' 'NORMAN'S NUGGET,' ETC.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a terrible time for the weak and the young.
a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
immediately past
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
leadershipnounUS /ˈliːdərʃɪp/
the activity of leading
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Nearly one-half of the population of the city died during the siege, and those who survived formed a gaunt, haggard, miserable band, more like scarecrows than human beings.
the force of workers available
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading Nearly one-half of the population of the city died during the siege, and those who survived formed a gaunt, haggard, miserable band, more like scarecrows than human beings.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Nearly one-half of the population of the city died during the siege, and those who survived formed a gaunt, haggard, miserable band, more like scarecrows than human beings.
nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/
impressive in appearance
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
NORMAN'SnounUS /ˈnɔːrmənz/
possessive form of “norman” — United States operatic soprano (born in 1945)
From this reading A Boy's Adventures in Nova Scotia AUTHOR OF 'DONALBLANE OF DARIEN,' 'A BOY OF THE BANKS,' 'NORMAN'S NUGGET,' ETC.
NovanounUS /ˈnoʊvə/
a star that ejects some of its material in the form of a cloud and becomes more luminous in the process
From this reading A Boy's Adventures in Nova Scotia AUTHOR OF 'DONALBLANE OF DARIEN,' 'A BOY OF THE BANKS,' 'NORMAN'S NUGGET,' ETC.
NUGGETnounUS /ˈnʌɡɪt/
a solid lump of a precious metal (especially gold) as found in the earth
From this reading A Boy's Adventures in Nova Scotia AUTHOR OF 'DONALBLANE OF DARIEN,' 'A BOY OF THE BANKS,' 'NORMAN'S NUGGET,' ETC.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A Boy's Adventures in Nova Scotia AUTHOR OF 'DONALBLANE OF DARIEN,' 'A BOY OF THE BANKS,' 'NORMAN'S NUGGET,' ETC.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
one-halfnoun
one of two equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading Nearly one-half of the population of the city died during the siege, and those who survived formed a gaunt, haggard, miserable band, more like scarecrows than human beings.
pangsnounUS /pæŋz/
plural of “pang” — a sudden sharp feeling
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
perilsnounUS /ˈperəlz/
plural of “peril” — a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
pestilencenounUS /ˈpestələns/
a serious (sometimes fatal) infection of rodents caused by Yersinia pestis and accidentally transmitted to humans by the bite of a flea that has bitten an infected animal
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
populationnounUS /ˌpɑːpjəˈleɪʃən/
the people who inhabit a territory or state
From this reading Nearly one-half of the population of the city died during the siege, and those who survived formed a gaunt, haggard, miserable band, more like scarecrows than human beings.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
reducedadjectiveUS /rəˈduːst/
made less in size or amount or degree
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
RichelieunounUS /ˈrɪʃəluː/
French prelate and statesman; principal minister to Louis XIII (1585-1642)
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
Rochelle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
a reason for wanting something done
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
scarecrowsnounUS /ˈskærkroʊz/
plural of “scarecrow” — an effigy in the shape of a man to frighten birds away from seeds
From this reading Nearly one-half of the population of the city died during the siege, and those who survived formed a gaunt, haggard, miserable band, more like scarecrows than human beings.
Scotia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Boy's Adventures in Nova Scotia AUTHOR OF 'DONALBLANE OF DARIEN,' 'A BOY OF THE BANKS,' 'NORMAN'S NUGGET,' ETC.
siegenounUS /siːdʒ/
the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack
From this reading Nearly one-half of the population of the city died during the siege, and those who survived formed a gaunt, haggard, miserable band, more like scarecrows than human beings.
soul-stirringadjective
exciting strong but not unpleasant emotions
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
surrendernounUS /sərˈendər/
acceptance of despair
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
survivedverbUS /sərˈvaɪvd/
past form of “survive” — continue to live and avoid dying
From this reading Nearly one-half of the population of the city died during the siege, and those who survived formed a gaunt, haggard, miserable band, more like scarecrows than human beings.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading It was a terrible time for the weak and the young.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A Boy's Adventures in Nova Scotia AUTHOR OF 'DONALBLANE OF DARIEN,' 'A BOY OF THE BANKS,' 'NORMAN'S NUGGET,' ETC.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Nearly one-half of the population of the city died during the siege, and those who survived formed a gaunt, haggard, miserable band, more like scarecrows than human beings.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was a terrible time for the weak and the young.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a terrible time for the weak and the young.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading It was a terrible time for the weak and the young.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
at the time that
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
which person or people
From this reading Nearly one-half of the population of the city died during the siege, and those who survived formed a gaunt, haggard, miserable band, more like scarecrows than human beings.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For the sake of their faith these noble people endured the pangs of hunger, the perils of battle, and the blight of pestilence, until at last, their fighting men being reduced to a mere handful, with broken hearts they were compelled to surrender.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading The defence of the city of La Rochelle by the Huguenots, when for more than a year they defied the whole power of France under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, must ever remain one of the most heroic and soul-stirring chapters in history.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading It was a terrible time for the weak and the young.
