used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
acornsnounUS /ˈeɪkɔːrnz/
plural of “acorn” — fruit of the oak tree: a smooth thin-walled nut in a woody cup-shaped base
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Stronghold after stronghold was taken, and Richmond itself was threatened.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading It seemed that the whole world had sprung up in arms against the South.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Stronghold after stronghold was taken, and Richmond itself was threatened.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading It seemed that the whole world had sprung up in arms against the South.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
uncastrated adult male of domestic cattle
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
ConfederacynounUS /kənˈfedərəsi/
the southern states that seceded from the United States in 1861
From this reading The days fell dark for the Confederacy.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The days fell dark for the Confederacy.
darklyadverbUS /ˈdɑːrkli/
without light
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The days fell dark for the Confederacy.
comparative of “deeply” — to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
-ing form of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
fadingnounUS /ˈfeɪdɪŋ/
weakening in force or intensity
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The days fell dark for the Confederacy.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The days fell dark for the Confederacy.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It seemed that the whole world had sprung up in arms against the South.
haversacknoun
a bag carried by a strap on your back or shoulder
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
illumineverb
make lighter or brighter
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It seemed that the whole world had sprung up in arms against the South.
involvedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɑːlvd/
connected by participation or association or use
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed that the whole world had sprung up in arms against the South.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Stronghold after stronghold was taken, and Richmond itself was threatened.
and nothing more
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
take somebody somewhere
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
marveledverbUS /ˈmɑːrveld/
past form of “marvel” — be amazed at
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
not any; not one
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
phantomnounUS /ˈfæn.təm/
A ghost or apparition; a figment of the imagination or a hidden dweller.
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
RichmondnounUS /ˈrɪtʃmənd/
capital of the state of Virginia located in the east central part of the state; was capital of the Confederacy during the American Civil War
From this reading Stronghold after stronghold was taken, and Richmond itself was threatened.
roastedadjectiveUS /ˈroʊstəd/
(meat) cooked by dry heat in an oven
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed that the whole world had sprung up in arms against the South.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
soldier'snounUS /ˈsoʊldʒərz/
possessive form of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading It seemed that the whole world had sprung up in arms against the South.
sprungverbUS /sprʌŋ/
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading It seemed that the whole world had sprung up in arms against the South.
StrongholdnounUS /ˈstrɔːŋhoʊld/
a strongly fortified defensive structure
From this reading Stronghold after stronghold was taken, and Richmond itself was threatened.
sugar-cane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Stronghold after stronghold was taken, and Richmond itself was threatened.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed that the whole world had sprung up in arms against the South.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The days fell dark for the Confederacy.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In his haversack, he carried roasted acorns and pieces of sugar-cane, and his enemies, in blood his brothers, shook their heads and marveled at his courage, for he was just as ready to fight as he had been on the morning after Bull Run.
thicketnounUS /ˈθɪkɪt/
a dense growth of bushes
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered
From this reading Stronghold after stronghold was taken, and Richmond itself was threatened.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It seemed that the whole world had sprung up in arms against the South.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Stronghold after stronghold was taken, and Richmond itself was threatened.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading It seemed that the whole world had sprung up in arms against the South.
wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
(politics) a state of disfavor
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading It seemed that the whole world had sprung up in arms against the South.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading No hope was left to illumine the soldier's heart; he had followed a bright phantom, year after year, expecting it to lead him out of the wilderness, but he was becoming deeper and more darkly involved in the thicket, and now the phantom was fading.
