Chapter XV · Chapter 15

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading We were compelled to watch the enemy with a jealous eye, not allowing our late little victory to feed our vanity, or to seduce us from our wonted caution.

any specific behavior

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

-ing form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading We were compelled to watch the enemy with a jealous eye, not allowing our late little victory to feed our vanity, or to seduce us from our wonted caution.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

move towards

From this reading Every eye was now fixed on the hill which was in front of our head approach; and various and ludicrous were the reports and opinions, during the day and night, of the movements on the said hill.

plural of “approach” — ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Fallen trees were magnified into guns and mortars; variegated bushes into soldiers; the light between the trees into flags; and the midnight _ignis fatuus_, on its nocturnal rambles, into torches and lights of the enemy.

being moved or acted upon by moving air or vapor

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading Fallen trees were magnified into guns and mortars; variegated bushes into soldiers; the light between the trees into flags; and the midnight _ignis fatuus_, on its nocturnal rambles, into torches and lights of the enemy.

plural of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger

From this reading We were compelled to watch the enemy with a jealous eye, not allowing our late little victory to feed our vanity, or to seduce us from our wonted caution.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

the officer who holds the supreme command

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something

From this reading We were compelled to watch the enemy with a jealous eye, not allowing our late little victory to feed our vanity, or to seduce us from our wonted caution.

past form of “construe” — make sense of; assign a meaning to

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Every eye was now fixed on the hill which was in front of our head approach; and various and ludicrous were the reports and opinions, during the day and night, of the movements on the said hill.

a branch of knowledge

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading Every eye was now fixed on the hill which was in front of our head approach; and various and ludicrous were the reports and opinions, during the day and night, of the movements on the said hill.

an opposing military force

From this reading We were compelled to watch the enemy with a jealous eye, not allowing our late little victory to feed our vanity, or to seduce us from our wonted caution.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Every eye was now fixed on the hill which was in front of our head approach; and various and ludicrous were the reports and opinions, during the day and night, of the movements on the said hill.

the organ of sight

From this reading We were compelled to watch the enemy with a jealous eye, not allowing our late little victory to feed our vanity, or to seduce us from our wonted caution.

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading Fallen trees were magnified into guns and mortars; variegated bushes into soldiers; the light between the trees into flags; and the midnight _ignis fatuus_, on its nocturnal rambles, into torches and lights of the enemy.

decreasing in amount or degree

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Fallen trees were magnified into guns and mortars; variegated bushes into soldiers; the light between the trees into flags; and the midnight _ignis fatuus_, on its nocturnal rambles, into torches and lights of the enemy.

provide as food

From this reading We were compelled to watch the enemy with a jealous eye, not allowing our late little victory to feed our vanity, or to seduce us from our wonted caution.

(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value

From this reading Every eye was now fixed on the hill which was in front of our head approach; and various and ludicrous were the reports and opinions, during the day and night, of the movements on the said hill.

plural of “flag” — emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design

From this reading Fallen trees were magnified into guns and mortars; variegated bushes into soldiers; the light between the trees into flags; and the midnight _ignis fatuus_, on its nocturnal rambles, into torches and lights of the enemy.

an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading We were compelled to watch the enemy with a jealous eye, not allowing our late little victory to feed our vanity, or to seduce us from our wonted caution.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading Every eye was now fixed on the hill which was in front of our head approach; and various and ludicrous were the reports and opinions, during the day and night, of the movements on the said hill.

a narrow secluded valley (in the mountains)

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

From this reading Fallen trees were magnified into guns and mortars; variegated bushes into soldiers; the light between the trees into flags; and the midnight _ignis fatuus_, on its nocturnal rambles, into torches and lights of the enemy.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Every eye was now fixed on the hill which was in front of our head approach; and various and ludicrous were the reports and opinions, during the day and night, of the movements on the said hill.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading Every eye was now fixed on the hill which was in front of our head approach; and various and ludicrous were the reports and opinions, during the day and night, of the movements on the said hill.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Fallen trees were magnified into guns and mortars; variegated bushes into soldiers; the light between the trees into flags; and the midnight _ignis fatuus_, on its nocturnal rambles, into torches and lights of the enemy.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Fallen trees were magnified into guns and mortars; variegated bushes into soldiers; the light between the trees into flags; and the midnight _ignis fatuus_, on its nocturnal rambles, into torches and lights of the enemy.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Fallen trees were magnified into guns and mortars; variegated bushes into soldiers; the light between the trees into flags; and the midnight _ignis fatuus_, on its nocturnal rambles, into torches and lights of the enemy.

showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another's advantages

From this reading We were compelled to watch the enemy with a jealous eye, not allowing our late little victory to feed our vanity, or to seduce us from our wonted caution.

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading We were compelled to watch the enemy with a jealous eye, not allowing our late little victory to feed our vanity, or to seduce us from our wonted caution.

having no leaves

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Fallen trees were magnified into guns and mortars; variegated bushes into soldiers; the light between the trees into flags; and the midnight _ignis fatuus_, on its nocturnal rambles, into torches and lights of the enemy.

plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation

From this reading Fallen trees were magnified into guns and mortars; variegated bushes into soldiers; the light between the trees into flags; and the midnight _ignis fatuus_, on its nocturnal rambles, into torches and lights of the enemy.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading We were compelled to watch the enemy with a jealous eye, not allowing our late little victory to feed our vanity, or to seduce us from our wonted caution.

broadly or extravagantly humorous; resembling farce

From this reading Every eye was now fixed on the hill which was in front of our head approach; and various and ludicrous were the reports and opinions, during the day and night, of the movements on the said hill.

enlarged to an abnormal degree

From this reading Fallen trees were magnified into guns and mortars; variegated bushes into soldiers; the light between the trees into flags; and the midnight _ignis fatuus_, on its nocturnal rambles, into torches and lights of the enemy.

12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night

From this reading Fallen trees were magnified into guns and mortars; variegated bushes into soldiers; the light between the trees into flags; and the midnight _ignis fatuus_, on its nocturnal rambles, into torches and lights of the enemy.

plural of “mortar” — a muzzle-loading high-angle gun with a short barrel that fires shells at high elevations for a short range

From this reading Fallen trees were magnified into guns and mortars; variegated bushes into soldiers; the light between the trees into flags; and the midnight _ignis fatuus_, on its nocturnal rambles, into torches and lights of the enemy.

plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location

From this reading Every eye was now fixed on the hill which was in front of our head approach; and various and ludicrous were the reports and opinions, during the day and night, of the movements on the said hill.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Every eye was now fixed on the hill which was in front of our head approach; and various and ludicrous were the reports and opinions, during the day and night, of the movements on the said hill.

belonging to or active during the night

From this reading Fallen trees were magnified into guns and mortars; variegated bushes into soldiers; the light between the trees into flags; and the midnight _ignis fatuus_, on its nocturnal rambles, into torches and lights of the enemy.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Every eye was now fixed on the hill which was in front of our head approach; and various and ludicrous were the reports and opinions, during the day and night, of the movements on the said hill.

under a moral obligation to do something

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Every eye was now fixed on the hill which was in front of our head approach; and various and ludicrous were the reports and opinions, during the day and night, of the movements on the said hill.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

plural of “opinion” — a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

From this reading Every eye was now fixed on the hill which was in front of our head approach; and various and ludicrous were the reports and opinions, during the day and night, of the movements on the said hill.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading We were compelled to watch the enemy with a jealous eye, not allowing our late little victory to feed our vanity, or to seduce us from our wonted caution.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

capable of happening or existing

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Fallen trees were magnified into guns and mortars; variegated bushes into soldiers; the light between the trees into flags; and the midnight _ignis fatuus_, on its nocturnal rambles, into torches and lights of the enemy.

without strain or anxiety

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

plural of “report” — a written document describing the findings of some individual or group

From this reading Every eye was now fixed on the hill which was in front of our head approach; and various and ludicrous were the reports and opinions, during the day and night, of the movements on the said hill.

the stealing of cattle

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Every eye was now fixed on the hill which was in front of our head approach; and various and ludicrous were the reports and opinions, during the day and night, of the movements on the said hill.

induce to have sex

From this reading We were compelled to watch the enemy with a jealous eye, not allowing our late little victory to feed our vanity, or to seduce us from our wonted caution.

superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading Fallen trees were magnified into guns and mortars; variegated bushes into soldiers; the light between the trees into flags; and the midnight _ignis fatuus_, on its nocturnal rambles, into torches and lights of the enemy.

not in physical motion

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

plural of “torch” — a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance

From this reading Fallen trees were magnified into guns and mortars; variegated bushes into soldiers; the light between the trees into flags; and the midnight _ignis fatuus_, on its nocturnal rambles, into torches and lights of the enemy.

not wooded

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading Fallen trees were magnified into guns and mortars; variegated bushes into soldiers; the light between the trees into flags; and the midnight _ignis fatuus_, on its nocturnal rambles, into torches and lights of the enemy.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading We were compelled to watch the enemy with a jealous eye, not allowing our late little victory to feed our vanity, or to seduce us from our wonted caution.

feelings of excessive pride

From this reading We were compelled to watch the enemy with a jealous eye, not allowing our late little victory to feed our vanity, or to seduce us from our wonted caution.

having a variety of colors

From this reading Fallen trees were magnified into guns and mortars; variegated bushes into soldiers; the light between the trees into flags; and the midnight _ignis fatuus_, on its nocturnal rambles, into torches and lights of the enemy.

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading Every eye was now fixed on the hill which was in front of our head approach; and various and ludicrous were the reports and opinions, during the day and night, of the movements on the said hill.

a successful ending of a struggle or contest

From this reading We were compelled to watch the enemy with a jealous eye, not allowing our late little victory to feed our vanity, or to seduce us from our wonted caution.

the process of paying close and continuous attention

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

look attentively

From this reading We were compelled to watch the enemy with a jealous eye, not allowing our late little victory to feed our vanity, or to seduce us from our wonted caution.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Every eye was now fixed on the hill which was in front of our head approach; and various and ludicrous were the reports and opinions, during the day and night, of the movements on the said hill.

characteristic of or occurring in winter

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.

in the company of; together with

From this reading We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with all possible vigilance and activity; and our discipline was not relaxed in the slightest particular.

commonly used or practiced; usual

From this reading We were compelled to watch the enemy with a jealous eye, not allowing our late little victory to feed our vanity, or to seduce us from our wonted caution.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were construed into the coming foe; and, had one of our captains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them all up instead of the enemy.