used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading It was the only city in Pomerania still held for Karl; everything was ready for defense in case of an attack, and the eyes and ears of the sentinels were strained against the darkness of the night.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was the only city in Pomerania still held for Karl; everything was ready for defense in case of an attack, and the eyes and ears of the sentinels were strained against the darkness of the night.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
armiesnounUS /ˈɑːrmiz/
plural of “army” — a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading They knew not when they might be surrounded by the armies of the Czar.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading It was the only city in Pomerania still held for Karl; everything was ready for defense in case of an attack, and the eyes and ears of the sentinels were strained against the darkness of the night.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading A clatter of hoofs out of the obscurity of the night and the sentinels at the gates stood at attention.
BalticnounUS /ˈbɔːltɪk/
a sea in northern Europe; stronghold of the Russian navy
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They knew not when they might be surrounded by the armies of the Czar.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They knew not when they might be surrounded by the armies of the Czar.
an occurrence of something
From this reading It was the only city in Pomerania still held for Karl; everything was ready for defense in case of an attack, and the eyes and ears of the sentinels were strained against the darkness of the night.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading It was the only city in Pomerania still held for Karl; everything was ready for defense in case of an attack, and the eyes and ears of the sentinels were strained against the darkness of the night.
clatternounUS /ˈklætər/
a rattling noise (often produced by rapid movement)
From this reading A clatter of hoofs out of the obscurity of the night and the sentinels at the gates stood at attention.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
CzarnounUS /zɑːr/
a male monarch or emperor (especially of Russia prior to 1917)
From this reading They knew not when they might be surrounded by the armies of the Czar.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was the only city in Pomerania still held for Karl; everything was ready for defense in case of an attack, and the eyes and ears of the sentinels were strained against the darkness of the night.
defensenounUS /dɪˈfens/
(military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies
From this reading It was the only city in Pomerania still held for Karl; everything was ready for defense in case of an attack, and the eyes and ears of the sentinels were strained against the darkness of the night.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading It was the only city in Pomerania still held for Karl; everything was ready for defense in case of an attack, and the eyes and ears of the sentinels were strained against the darkness of the night.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading It was the only city in Pomerania still held for Karl; everything was ready for defense in case of an attack, and the eyes and ears of the sentinels were strained against the darkness of the night.
opinion or judgment
From this reading It was the only city in Pomerania still held for Karl; everything was ready for defense in case of an attack, and the eyes and ears of the sentinels were strained against the darkness of the night.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was the only city in Pomerania still held for Karl; everything was ready for defense in case of an attack, and the eyes and ears of the sentinels were strained against the darkness of the night.
freezingnounUS /ˈfriːzɪŋ/
the withdrawal of heat to change something from a liquid to a solid
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)
From this reading A clatter of hoofs out of the obscurity of the night and the sentinels at the gates stood at attention.
gleamedverbUS /ɡliːmd/
past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading It was the only city in Pomerania still held for Karl; everything was ready for defense in case of an attack, and the eyes and ears of the sentinels were strained against the darkness of the night.
hoofsnounUS /hʊfs/
plural of “hoof” — the foot of an ungulate mammal
From this reading A clatter of hoofs out of the obscurity of the night and the sentinels at the gates stood at attention.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the only city in Pomerania still held for Karl; everything was ready for defense in case of an attack, and the eyes and ears of the sentinels were strained against the darkness of the night.
Karl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the only city in Pomerania still held for Karl; everything was ready for defense in case of an attack, and the eyes and ears of the sentinels were strained against the darkness of the night.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading They knew not when they might be surrounded by the armies of the Czar.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading They knew not when they might be surrounded by the armies of the Czar.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It was one o’clock in the morning and the whole town slept.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/
the month following October and preceding December
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading It was one o’clock in the morning and the whole town slept.
obscuritynounUS /əbsˈkjʊrəti/
the quality of being unclear or abstruse and hard to understand
From this reading A clatter of hoofs out of the obscurity of the night and the sentinels at the gates stood at attention.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was one o’clock in the morning and the whole town slept.
and nothing more
From this reading It was the only city in Pomerania still held for Karl; everything was ready for defense in case of an attack, and the eyes and ears of the sentinels were strained against the darkness of the night.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A clatter of hoofs out of the obscurity of the night and the sentinels at the gates stood at attention.
Pomerania
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the only city in Pomerania still held for Karl; everything was ready for defense in case of an attack, and the eyes and ears of the sentinels were strained against the darkness of the night.
postsnounUS /poʊsts/
plural of “post” — the position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading It was the only city in Pomerania still held for Karl; everything was ready for defense in case of an attack, and the eyes and ears of the sentinels were strained against the darkness of the night.
sentinelsnounUS /ˈsentənəlz/
plural of “sentinel” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading It was the only city in Pomerania still held for Karl; everything was ready for defense in case of an attack, and the eyes and ears of the sentinels were strained against the darkness of the night.
sentriesnounUS /ˈsentriz/
plural of “sentry” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
shiveredverbUS /ˈʃɪvərd/
past form of “shiver” — tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading It was one o’clock in the morning and the whole town slept.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
not in physical motion
From this reading It was the only city in Pomerania still held for Karl; everything was ready for defense in case of an attack, and the eyes and ears of the sentinels were strained against the darkness of the night.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading A clatter of hoofs out of the obscurity of the night and the sentinels at the gates stood at attention.
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading It was the only city in Pomerania still held for Karl; everything was ready for defense in case of an attack, and the eyes and ears of the sentinels were strained against the darkness of the night.
Stralsund
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
confined on all sides
From this reading They knew not when they might be surrounded by the armies of the Czar.
sweepingadjectiveUS /ˈswiːpɪŋ/
taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They knew not when they might be surrounded by the armies of the Czar.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading It was one o’clock in the morning and the whole town slept.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
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 A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the only city in Pomerania still held for Karl; everything was ready for defense in case of an attack, and the eyes and ears of the sentinels were strained against the darkness of the night.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was the only city in Pomerania still held for Karl; everything was ready for defense in case of an attack, and the eyes and ears of the sentinels were strained against the darkness of the night.
at the time that
From this reading They knew not when they might be surrounded by the armies of the Czar.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading It was one o’clock in the morning and the whole town slept.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A freezing night in November, a cutting wind sweeping up from the Baltic, a sky so black with heavy clouds that not a star gleamed through, and the sentries on the walls of Stralsund shivered at their posts.
