used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
(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 Beyond and behind the valley rose a tier of hills on which the French were then striving with all their might to hold an intrenched position.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Beyond and behind the valley rose a tier of hills on which the French were then striving with all their might to hold an intrenched position.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
aëroplane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sergeant had presented the boys with a high-powered field glass, and to their delight they picked out an occasional aëroplane hovering over the lines.
Bannoncour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front lay the level valley of the Meuse, with the towns of St. Mihiel and Bannoncour nestling upon the green landscape.
barriernounUS /ˈbæriər/
a structure or object that impedes free movement
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
battlefieldnounUS /ˈbætəlfiːld/
a region where a battle is being (or has been) fought
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Beyond and behind the valley rose a tier of hills on which the French were then striving with all their might to hold an intrenched position.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Beyond and behind the valley rose a tier of hills on which the French were then striving with all their might to hold an intrenched position.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Bursting shells were throwing up columns of white or black fog, and cloudlets of white smoke here and there showed where a position was under shrapnel fire.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
terminate
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
BurstingverbUS /ˈbɜːrstɪŋ/
-ing form of “burst” — come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading Bursting shells were throwing up columns of white or black fog, and cloudlets of white smoke here and there showed where a position was under shrapnel fire.
cloudlets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bursting shells were throwing up columns of white or black fog, and cloudlets of white smoke here and there showed where a position was under shrapnel fire.
columnsnounUS /ˈkɑːləmz/
plural of “column” — a line of units following one after another
From this reading Bursting shells were throwing up columns of white or black fog, and cloudlets of white smoke here and there showed where a position was under shrapnel fire.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading The sergeant had presented the boys with a high-powered field glass, and to their delight they picked out an occasional aëroplane hovering over the lines.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading The sergeant had presented the boys with a high-powered field glass, and to their delight they picked out an occasional aëroplane hovering over the lines.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Bursting shells were throwing up columns of white or black fog, and cloudlets of white smoke here and there showed where a position was under shrapnel fire.
fognounUS /fɑːɡ/
droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground
From this reading Bursting shells were throwing up columns of white or black fog, and cloudlets of white smoke here and there showed where a position was under shrapnel fire.
plural of “force” — a powerful effect or influence
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
fortsnounUS /fɔːrts/
plural of “fort” — a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading In front lay the level valley of the Meuse, with the towns of St. Mihiel and Bannoncour nestling upon the green landscape.
a person of German nationality
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading The sergeant had presented the boys with a high-powered field glass, and to their delight they picked out an occasional aëroplane hovering over the lines.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading In front lay the level valley of the Meuse, with the towns of St. Mihiel and Bannoncour nestling upon the green landscape.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The sergeant had presented the boys with a high-powered field glass, and to their delight they picked out an occasional aëroplane hovering over the lines.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Bursting shells were throwing up columns of white or black fog, and cloudlets of white smoke here and there showed where a position was under shrapnel fire.
high-poweredadjectiveUS /ˌhaɪˈpaʊərd/
vigorously energetic or forceful
From this reading The sergeant had presented the boys with a high-powered field glass, and to their delight they picked out an occasional aëroplane hovering over the lines.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Beyond and behind the valley rose a tier of hills on which the French were then striving with all their might to hold an intrenched position.
hillsidenounUS /ˈhɪlsaɪd/
the side or slope of a hill
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Beyond and behind the valley rose a tier of hills on which the French were then striving with all their might to hold an intrenched position.
hoveringverbUS /ˈhʌvərɪŋ/
-ing form of “hover” — be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
From this reading The sergeant had presented the boys with a high-powered field glass, and to their delight they picked out an occasional aëroplane hovering over the lines.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In front lay the level valley of the Meuse, with the towns of St. Mihiel and Bannoncour nestling upon the green landscape.
intrenched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beyond and behind the valley rose a tier of hills on which the French were then striving with all their might to hold an intrenched position.
landscapenounUS /ˈlændskeɪp/
an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
From this reading In front lay the level valley of the Meuse, with the towns of St. Mihiel and Bannoncour nestling upon the green landscape.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading In front lay the level valley of the Meuse, with the towns of St. Mihiel and Bannoncour nestling upon the green landscape.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading In front lay the level valley of the Meuse, with the towns of St. Mihiel and Bannoncour nestling upon the green landscape.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading The sergeant had presented the boys with a high-powered field glass, and to their delight they picked out an occasional aëroplane hovering over the lines.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
MeusenounUS /mjuːz/
a European river; flows into the North Sea
From this reading In front lay the level valley of the Meuse, with the towns of St. Mihiel and Bannoncour nestling upon the green landscape.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Beyond and behind the valley rose a tier of hills on which the French were then striving with all their might to hold an intrenched position.
Mihiel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front lay the level valley of the Meuse, with the towns of St. Mihiel and Bannoncour nestling upon the green landscape.
nestlingnounUS /ˈnestlɪŋ/
young bird not yet fledged
From this reading In front lay the level valley of the Meuse, with the towns of St. Mihiel and Bannoncour nestling upon the green landscape.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading The sergeant had presented the boys with a high-powered field glass, and to their delight they picked out an occasional aëroplane hovering over the lines.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Beyond and behind the valley rose a tier of hills on which the French were then striving with all their might to hold an intrenched position.
opposingadjectiveUS /əˈpoʊzɪŋ/
characterized by active hostility
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Bursting shells were throwing up columns of white or black fog, and cloudlets of white smoke here and there showed where a position was under shrapnel fire.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The sergeant had presented the boys with a high-powered field glass, and to their delight they picked out an occasional aëroplane hovering over the lines.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading The sergeant had presented the boys with a high-powered field glass, and to their delight they picked out an occasional aëroplane hovering over the lines.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Beyond and behind the valley rose a tier of hills on which the French were then striving with all their might to hold an intrenched position.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The sergeant had presented the boys with a high-powered field glass, and to their delight they picked out an occasional aëroplane hovering over the lines.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Beyond and behind the valley rose a tier of hills on which the French were then striving with all their might to hold an intrenched position.
any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
From this reading The sergeant had presented the boys with a high-powered field glass, and to their delight they picked out an occasional aëroplane hovering over the lines.
shellsnounUS /ʃelz/
plural of “shell” — ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading Bursting shells were throwing up columns of white or black fog, and cloudlets of white smoke here and there showed where a position was under shrapnel fire.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Bursting shells were throwing up columns of white or black fog, and cloudlets of white smoke here and there showed where a position was under shrapnel fire.
shrapnelnounUS /ˈʃræpnəl/
shell containing lead pellets that explodes in flight
From this reading Bursting shells were throwing up columns of white or black fog, and cloudlets of white smoke here and there showed where a position was under shrapnel fire.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading Bursting shells were throwing up columns of white or black fog, and cloudlets of white smoke here and there showed where a position was under shrapnel fire.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front lay the level valley of the Meuse, with the towns of St. Mihiel and Bannoncour nestling upon the green landscape.
strivingnounUS /ˈstraɪvɪŋ/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading Beyond and behind the valley rose a tier of hills on which the French were then striving with all their might to hold an intrenched position.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Beyond and behind the valley rose a tier of hills on which the French were then striving with all their might to hold an intrenched position.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Bursting shells were throwing up columns of white or black fog, and cloudlets of white smoke here and there showed where a position was under shrapnel fire.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The sergeant had presented the boys with a high-powered field glass, and to their delight they picked out an occasional aëroplane hovering over the lines.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading Bursting shells were throwing up columns of white or black fog, and cloudlets of white smoke here and there showed where a position was under shrapnel fire.
tiernounUS /tiːr/
a relative position or degree of value in a graded group
From this reading Beyond and behind the valley rose a tier of hills on which the French were then striving with all their might to hold an intrenched position.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
Toul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
townsnounUS /taʊnz/
plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading In front lay the level valley of the Meuse, with the towns of St. Mihiel and Bannoncour nestling upon the green landscape.
hard to endure
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Bursting shells were throwing up columns of white or black fog, and cloudlets of white smoke here and there showed where a position was under shrapnel fire.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Bursting shells were throwing up columns of white or black fog, and cloudlets of white smoke here and there showed where a position was under shrapnel fire.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading In front lay the level valley of the Meuse, with the towns of St. Mihiel and Bannoncour nestling upon the green landscape.
VerdunnounUS /ˈvɜːrdən/
a battle in World War I (1916); in some of the bloodiest fighting in World War I the German offensive was stopped
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Beyond and behind the valley rose a tier of hills on which the French were then striving with all their might to hold an intrenched position.
in or at the place that
From this reading From a hillside the boys looked upon and over the great battlefield where the German army was then trying to break through the line of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Beyond and behind the valley rose a tier of hills on which the French were then striving with all their might to hold an intrenched position.
a Caucasian
From this reading Bursting shells were throwing up columns of white or black fog, and cloudlets of white smoke here and there showed where a position was under shrapnel fire.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In front lay the level valley of the Meuse, with the towns of St. Mihiel and Bannoncour nestling upon the green landscape.
