used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At a distance lay the wrecks of the blackened and smouldering camp; while before them, gaudy and glittering pennons waving, and trumpets sounding, came the exultant legions of the foe.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Fondly anticipating the retreat of the Christians, after so signal a disaster, the gay and dazzling spectacle of their march to the assault filled them with consternation and alarm.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading Fondly anticipating the retreat of the Christians, after so signal a disaster, the gay and dazzling spectacle of their march to the assault filled them with consternation and alarm.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
anticipatingverbUS /ænˈtɪsəpeɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “anticipate” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading Fondly anticipating the retreat of the Christians, after so signal a disaster, the gay and dazzling spectacle of their march to the assault filled them with consternation and alarm.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
assaultnounUS /əˈsɔːlt/
close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
From this reading Fondly anticipating the retreat of the Christians, after so signal a disaster, the gay and dazzling spectacle of their march to the assault filled them with consternation and alarm.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At a distance lay the wrecks of the blackened and smouldering camp; while before them, gaudy and glittering pennons waving, and trumpets sounding, came the exultant legions of the foe.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading THE GREAT BATTLE.
battlementsnounUS /ˈbætəlmənts/
plural of “battlement” — a rampart built around the top of a castle with regular gaps for firing arrows or guns
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading At a distance lay the wrecks of the blackened and smouldering camp; while before them, gaudy and glittering pennons waving, and trumpets sounding, came the exultant legions of the foe.
inflected form of “behold” — see with attention
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading The Moors could scarcely believe their senses.
blackenedadjectiveUS /ˈblækənd/
darkened by smoke
From this reading At a distance lay the wrecks of the blackened and smouldering camp; while before them, gaudy and glittering pennons waving, and trumpets sounding, came the exultant legions of the foe.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading At a distance lay the wrecks of the blackened and smouldering camp; while before them, gaudy and glittering pennons waving, and trumpets sounding, came the exultant legions of the foe.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading At a distance lay the wrecks of the blackened and smouldering camp; while before them, gaudy and glittering pennons waving, and trumpets sounding, came the exultant legions of the foe.
ChristiansnounUS /ˈkrɪstʃənz/
plural of “christian” — a religious person who believes Jesus is the Christ and who is a member of a Christian denomination
From this reading Fondly anticipating the retreat of the Christians, after so signal a disaster, the gay and dazzling spectacle of their march to the assault filled them with consternation and alarm.
consternationnounUS /ˌkɑːnstərˈneɪʃən/
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading Fondly anticipating the retreat of the Christians, after so signal a disaster, the gay and dazzling spectacle of their march to the assault filled them with consternation and alarm.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The Moors could scarcely believe their senses.
dawnedverbUS /dɔːnd/
past form of “dawn” — become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
dazzlingadjectiveUS /ˈdæzəlɪŋ/
amazingly impressive; suggestive of the flashing of lightning
From this reading Fondly anticipating the retreat of the Christians, after so signal a disaster, the gay and dazzling spectacle of their march to the assault filled them with consternation and alarm.
disasternounUS /dɪˈzæstər/
a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune
From this reading Fondly anticipating the retreat of the Christians, after so signal a disaster, the gay and dazzling spectacle of their march to the assault filled them with consternation and alarm.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading At a distance lay the wrecks of the blackened and smouldering camp; while before them, gaudy and glittering pennons waving, and trumpets sounding, came the exultant legions of the foe.
exultantadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzʌltənt/
joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success
From this reading At a distance lay the wrecks of the blackened and smouldering camp; while before them, gaudy and glittering pennons waving, and trumpets sounding, came the exultant legions of the foe.
FerdinandnounUS /ˈfɜːrdɪnænd/
the king of Castile and Aragon who ruled jointly with his wife Isabella
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading Fondly anticipating the retreat of the Christians, after so signal a disaster, the gay and dazzling spectacle of their march to the assault filled them with consternation and alarm.
foenounUS /foʊ/
an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)
From this reading At a distance lay the wrecks of the blackened and smouldering camp; while before them, gaudy and glittering pennons waving, and trumpets sounding, came the exultant legions of the foe.
FondlyadverbUS /ˈfɑːndli/
with fondness; with love
From this reading Fondly anticipating the retreat of the Christians, after so signal a disaster, the gay and dazzling spectacle of their march to the assault filled them with consternation and alarm.
gaudyadjectiveUS /ˈɡɔːdi/
tastelessly showy
From this reading At a distance lay the wrecks of the blackened and smouldering camp; while before them, gaudy and glittering pennons waving, and trumpets sounding, came the exultant legions of the foe.
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading Fondly anticipating the retreat of the Christians, after so signal a disaster, the gay and dazzling spectacle of their march to the assault filled them with consternation and alarm.
glitteringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪtərɪŋ/
having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
From this reading At a distance lay the wrecks of the blackened and smouldering camp; while before them, gaudy and glittering pennons waving, and trumpets sounding, came the exultant legions of the foe.
GranadanounUS /ɡrəˈnɑːdə/
a city in southeastern Spain that was the capital of the Moorish kingdom until it was captured by Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading THE GREAT BATTLE.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading At a distance lay the wrecks of the blackened and smouldering camp; while before them, gaudy and glittering pennons waving, and trumpets sounding, came the exultant legions of the foe.
legionsnounUS /ˈliːdʒənz/
plural of “legion” — archaic terms for army
From this reading At a distance lay the wrecks of the blackened and smouldering camp; while before them, gaudy and glittering pennons waving, and trumpets sounding, came the exultant legions of the foe.
march in a procession
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
MoorsnounUS /mʊrz/
plural of “moor” — one of the Muslim people of north Africa; of mixed Arab and Berber descent; converted to Islam in the 8th century; conqueror of Spain in the 8th century
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
pennons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a distance lay the wrecks of the blackened and smouldering camp; while before them, gaudy and glittering pennons waving, and trumpets sounding, came the exultant legions of the foe.
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading Fondly anticipating the retreat of the Christians, after so signal a disaster, the gay and dazzling spectacle of their march to the assault filled them with consternation and alarm.
only a very short time before
From this reading The Moors could scarcely believe their senses.
plural of “sens” — street names for marijuana
From this reading The Moors could scarcely believe their senses.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading Fondly anticipating the retreat of the Christians, after so signal a disaster, the gay and dazzling spectacle of their march to the assault filled them with consternation and alarm.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
smoulderingadjective
showing scarcely suppressed anger
From this reading At a distance lay the wrecks of the blackened and smouldering camp; while before them, gaudy and glittering pennons waving, and trumpets sounding, came the exultant legions of the foe.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Fondly anticipating the retreat of the Christians, after so signal a disaster, the gay and dazzling spectacle of their march to the assault filled them with consternation and alarm.
soundingadjectiveUS /ˈsaʊndɪŋ/
appearing to be as specified; usually used as combining forms
From this reading At a distance lay the wrecks of the blackened and smouldering camp; while before them, gaudy and glittering pennons waving, and trumpets sounding, came the exultant legions of the foe.
spectaclenounUS /ˈspektəkəl/
something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight)
From this reading Fondly anticipating the retreat of the Christians, after so signal a disaster, the gay and dazzling spectacle of their march to the assault filled them with consternation and alarm.
not in physical motion
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GREAT BATTLE.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading At a distance lay the wrecks of the blackened and smouldering camp; while before them, gaudy and glittering pennons waving, and trumpets sounding, came the exultant legions of the foe.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Fondly anticipating the retreat of the Christians, after so signal a disaster, the gay and dazzling spectacle of their march to the assault filled them with consternation and alarm.
in the direction of
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
trumpetsnounUS /ˈtrʌmpəts/
pitcher plant of southeastern United States having erect yellow trumpet-shaped pitchers with wide mouths and erect lids
From this reading At a distance lay the wrecks of the blackened and smouldering camp; while before them, gaudy and glittering pennons waving, and trumpets sounding, came the exultant legions of the foe.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
wailsnounUS /weɪlz/
plural of “wail” — a cry of sorrow and grief
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
wavingnounUS /ˈweɪvɪŋ/
the act of signaling by a movement of the hand
From this reading At a distance lay the wrecks of the blackened and smouldering camp; while before them, gaudy and glittering pennons waving, and trumpets sounding, came the exultant legions of the foe.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading At a distance lay the wrecks of the blackened and smouldering camp; while before them, gaudy and glittering pennons waving, and trumpets sounding, came the exultant legions of the foe.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The day slowly dawned upon that awful night; and the Moors, still upon the battlements of Granada, beheld the whole army of Ferdinand on its march towards their wails.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Fondly anticipating the retreat of the Christians, after so signal a disaster, the gay and dazzling spectacle of their march to the assault filled them with consternation and alarm.
wrecksnounUS /reks/
plural of “wreck” — something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation
From this reading At a distance lay the wrecks of the blackened and smouldering camp; while before them, gaudy and glittering pennons waving, and trumpets sounding, came the exultant legions of the foe.
