used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Nothing short of a complete reconstruction would have been of any practical use.
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading The actual fortifications of the Upper City did not offer any serious resistance to the assailants.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
antiquitynounUS /ænˈtɪkwəti/
the historic period preceding the Middle Ages in Europe
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The actual fortifications of the Upper City did not offer any serious resistance to the assailants.
assailantsnounUS /əˈseɪlənts/
plural of “assailant” — someone who attacks
From this reading The actual fortifications of the Upper City did not offer any serious resistance to the assailants.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Some attempt had been made to put them into repair within the last few months, but to very little purpose.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading THE STORMING OF THE UPPER CITY.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading Nothing short of a complete reconstruction would have been of any practical use.
a state at a particular time
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
decayedadjectiveUS /dəˈkeɪd/
damaged by decay; hence unsound and useless
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The actual fortifications of the Upper City did not offer any serious resistance to the assailants.
erectionnounUS /ɪˈrekʃən/
an erect penis
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
divisible by two
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Some attempt had been made to put them into repair within the last few months, but to very little purpose.
fortificationsnounUS /ˌfɔːrtəfəˈkeɪʃənz/
plural of “fortification” — defensive structure consisting of walls or mounds built around a stronghold to strengthen it
From this reading The actual fortifications of the Upper City did not offer any serious resistance to the assailants.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Nothing short of a complete reconstruction would have been of any practical use.
improvedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvd/
made more desirable or valuable or profitable; especially made ready for use or marketing
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
inadequateadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnædəkwət/
lacking the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Some attempt had been made to put them into repair within the last few months, but to very little purpose.
past form of “introduce” — cause to come to know personally
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
immediately past
From this reading Some attempt had been made to put them into repair within the last few months, but to very little purpose.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Some attempt had been made to put them into repair within the last few months, but to very little purpose.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Some attempt had been made to put them into repair within the last few months, but to very little purpose.
come together
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
methodsnounUS /ˈmeθədz/
plural of “method” — a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Some attempt had been made to put them into repair within the last few months, but to very little purpose.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The actual fortifications of the Upper City did not offer any serious resistance to the assailants.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nothing short of a complete reconstruction would have been of any practical use.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE STORMING OF THE UPPER CITY.
make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading The actual fortifications of the Upper City did not offer any serious resistance to the assailants.
and nothing more
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
concerned with actual use or practice
From this reading Nothing short of a complete reconstruction would have been of any practical use.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Some attempt had been made to put them into repair within the last few months, but to very little purpose.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Some attempt had been made to put them into repair within the last few months, but to very little purpose.
reconstructionnounUS /ˌriːkənˈstrʌkʃən/
the period after the American Civil War when the southern states were reorganized and reintegrated into the Union; 1865-1877
From this reading Nothing short of a complete reconstruction would have been of any practical use.
repairnounUS /rɪˈper/
the act of putting something in working order again
From this reading Some attempt had been made to put them into repair within the last few months, but to very little purpose.
resistancenounUS /rɪˈzɪstəns/
the action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with
From this reading The actual fortifications of the Upper City did not offer any serious resistance to the assailants.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading The actual fortifications of the Upper City did not offer any serious resistance to the assailants.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Nothing short of a complete reconstruction would have been of any practical use.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some attempt had been made to put them into repair within the last few months, but to very little purpose.
STORMINGverbUS /ˈstɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “storm” — behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading THE STORMING OF THE UPPER CITY.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STORMING OF THE UPPER CITY.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Some attempt had been made to put them into repair within the last few months, but to very little purpose.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The actual fortifications of the Upper City did not offer any serious resistance to the assailants.
the topmost one of two
From this reading THE STORMING OF THE UPPER CITY.
the act of using
From this reading Nothing short of a complete reconstruction would have been of any practical use.
precisely as stated
From this reading Some attempt had been made to put them into repair within the last few months, but to very little purpose.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They were of extreme antiquity, and were not only greatly decayed, but were inadequate to meet, even had they been in the best condition, the improved methods of attack which had been introduced since the time of their erection.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Some attempt had been made to put them into repair within the last few months, but to very little purpose.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Nothing short of a complete reconstruction would have been of any practical use.
