Chapter XXII · The First Draw-Bridge

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

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading The draw-bridge which led to the Cour de Gouvernment, was closed against them; its massive timbers barred their progress, as rocks drive back the waves of an ocean.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

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

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state

From this reading So they came on, armed with spears, axes, bludgeons and muskets, dragging cannons and carrying hammers, a fierce, wild, terrible crowd, thundering at the outer gates like a besieging army.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading So they came on, armed with spears, axes, bludgeons and muskets, dragging cannons and carrying hammers, a fierce, wild, terrible crowd, thundering at the outer gates like a besieging army.

plural of “ax” — an edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle

From this reading So they came on, armed with spears, axes, bludgeons and muskets, dragging cannons and carrying hammers, a fierce, wild, terrible crowd, thundering at the outer gates like a besieging army.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading The draw-bridge which led to the Cour de Gouvernment, was closed against them; its massive timbers barred their progress, as rocks drive back the waves of an ocean.

preventing entry or exit or a course of action

From this reading The draw-bridge which led to the Cour de Gouvernment, was closed against them; its massive timbers barred their progress, as rocks drive back the waves of an ocean.

a fortress built in Paris in the 14th century and used as a prison in the 17th and 18th centuries; it was destroyed July 14, 1789 at the start of the French Revolution

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack

From this reading So they came on, armed with spears, axes, bludgeons and muskets, dragging cannons and carrying hammers, a fierce, wild, terrible crowd, thundering at the outer gates like a besieging army.

plural of “bloodhound” — a breed of large powerful hound of European origin having very acute smell and used in tracking

From this reading Some cool and resolute, others noisy and clamorous as bloodhounds, men, women and children, swarmed through the streets and threw themselves in tumultuous masses on the grim old prison.

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

From this reading So they came on, armed with spears, axes, bludgeons and muskets, dragging cannons and carrying hammers, a fierce, wild, terrible crowd, thundering at the outer gates like a besieging army.

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading So they came on, armed with spears, axes, bludgeons and muskets, dragging cannons and carrying hammers, a fierce, wild, terrible crowd, thundering at the outer gates like a besieging army.

plural of “cannon” — a large artillery gun that is usually on wheels

From this reading So they came on, armed with spears, axes, bludgeons and muskets, dragging cannons and carrying hammers, a fierce, wild, terrible crowd, thundering at the outer gates like a besieging army.

-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading So they came on, armed with spears, axes, bludgeons and muskets, dragging cannons and carrying hammers, a fierce, wild, terrible crowd, thundering at the outer gates like a besieging army.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading Some cool and resolute, others noisy and clamorous as bloodhounds, men, women and children, swarmed through the streets and threw themselves in tumultuous masses on the grim old prison.

conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry

From this reading Some cool and resolute, others noisy and clamorous as bloodhounds, men, women and children, swarmed through the streets and threw themselves in tumultuous masses on the grim old prison.

not open or affording passage or access

From this reading The draw-bridge which led to the Cour de Gouvernment, was closed against them; its massive timbers barred their progress, as rocks drive back the waves of an ocean.

the shore of a sea or ocean

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

without stop or interruption

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat

From this reading Some cool and resolute, others noisy and clamorous as bloodhounds, men, women and children, swarmed through the streets and threw themselves in tumultuous masses on the grim old prison.

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

From this reading The draw-bridge which led to the Cour de Gouvernment, was closed against them; its massive timbers barred their progress, as rocks drive back the waves of an ocean.

cause to herd, drive, or crowd together

From this reading So they came on, armed with spears, axes, bludgeons and muskets, dragging cannons and carrying hammers, a fierce, wild, terrible crowd, thundering at the outer gates like a besieging army.

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading The draw-bridge which led to the Cour de Gouvernment, was closed against them; its massive timbers barred their progress, as rocks drive back the waves of an ocean.

marked by a painfully slow and effortful manner

From this reading So they came on, armed with spears, axes, bludgeons and muskets, dragging cannons and carrying hammers, a fierce, wild, terrible crowd, thundering at the outer gates like a besieging army.

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

From this reading The draw-bridge which led to the Cour de Gouvernment, was closed against them; its massive timbers barred their progress, as rocks drive back the waves of an ocean.

operate or control a vehicle

From this reading The draw-bridge which led to the Cour de Gouvernment, was closed against them; its massive timbers barred their progress, as rocks drive back the waves of an ocean.

marked by extreme and violent energy

From this reading So they came on, armed with spears, axes, bludgeons and muskets, dragging cannons and carrying hammers, a fierce, wild, terrible crowd, thundering at the outer gates like a besieging army.

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

From this reading The French guards had fraternised with the mob and gave to a small portion of it something like organization.

the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France

From this reading The French guards had fraternised with the mob and gave to a small portion of it something like organization.

United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)

From this reading So they came on, armed with spears, axes, bludgeons and muskets, dragging cannons and carrying hammers, a fierce, wild, terrible crowd, thundering at the outer gates like a besieging army.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading The French guards had fraternised with the mob and gave to a small portion of it something like organization.

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

From this reading The draw-bridge which led to the Cour de Gouvernment, was closed against them; its massive timbers barred their progress, as rocks drive back the waves of an ocean.

not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty

From this reading Some cool and resolute, others noisy and clamorous as bloodhounds, men, women and children, swarmed through the streets and threw themselves in tumultuous masses on the grim old prison.

plural of “guard” — a person who keeps watch over something or someone

From this reading The French guards had fraternised with the mob and gave to a small portion of it something like organization.

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

From this reading The French guards had fraternised with the mob and gave to a small portion of it something like organization.

plural of “hammer” — the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled

From this reading So they came on, armed with spears, axes, bludgeons and muskets, dragging cannons and carrying hammers, a fierce, wild, terrible crowd, thundering at the outer gates like a besieging army.

an upward movement (especially a rhythmical rising and falling)

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

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

From this reading Some cool and resolute, others noisy and clamorous as bloodhounds, men, women and children, swarmed through the streets and threw themselves in tumultuous masses on the grim old prison.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The French guards had fraternised with the mob and gave to a small portion of it something like organization.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The draw-bridge which led to the Cour de Gouvernment, was closed against them; its massive timbers barred their progress, as rocks drive back the waves of an ocean.

diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used

From this reading The draw-bridge which led to the Cour de Gouvernment, was closed against them; its massive timbers barred their progress, as rocks drive back the waves of an ocean.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading The French guards had fraternised with the mob and gave to a small portion of it something like organization.

the common people generally

From this reading Some cool and resolute, others noisy and clamorous as bloodhounds, men, women and children, swarmed through the streets and threw themselves in tumultuous masses on the grim old prison.

imposing in size or bulk or solidity

From this reading The draw-bridge which led to the Cour de Gouvernment, was closed against them; its massive timbers barred their progress, as rocks drive back the waves of an ocean.

the force of workers available

From this reading Some cool and resolute, others noisy and clamorous as bloodhounds, men, women and children, swarmed through the streets and threw themselves in tumultuous masses on the grim old prison.

a disorderly crowd of people

From this reading The French guards had fraternised with the mob and gave to a small portion of it something like organization.

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

From this reading So they came on, armed with spears, axes, bludgeons and muskets, dragging cannons and carrying hammers, a fierce, wild, terrible crowd, thundering at the outer gates like a besieging army.

full of or characterized by loud and nonmusical sounds

From this reading Some cool and resolute, others noisy and clamorous as bloodhounds, men, women and children, swarmed through the streets and threw themselves in tumultuous masses on the grim old prison.

a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Some cool and resolute, others noisy and clamorous as bloodhounds, men, women and children, swarmed through the streets and threw themselves in tumultuous masses on the grim old prison.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Some cool and resolute, others noisy and clamorous as bloodhounds, men, women and children, swarmed through the streets and threw themselves in tumultuous masses on the grim old prison.

a group of people who work together

From this reading The French guards had fraternised with the mob and gave to a small portion of it something like organization.

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

From this reading Some cool and resolute, others noisy and clamorous as bloodhounds, men, women and children, swarmed through the streets and threw themselves in tumultuous masses on the grim old prison.

being on the outside or further from a center

From this reading So they came on, armed with spears, axes, bludgeons and muskets, dragging cannons and carrying hammers, a fierce, wild, terrible crowd, thundering at the outer gates like a besieging army.

the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading The French guards had fraternised with the mob and gave to a small portion of it something like organization.

past form of “pour” — cause to run

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment

From this reading Some cool and resolute, others noisy and clamorous as bloodhounds, men, women and children, swarmed through the streets and threw themselves in tumultuous masses on the grim old prison.

gradual improvement or growth or development

From this reading The draw-bridge which led to the Cour de Gouvernment, was closed against them; its massive timbers barred their progress, as rocks drive back the waves of an ocean.

firm in purpose or belief; characterized by firmness and determination

From this reading Some cool and resolute, others noisy and clamorous as bloodhounds, men, women and children, swarmed through the streets and threw themselves in tumultuous masses on the grim old prison.

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

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading The draw-bridge which led to the Cour de Gouvernment, was closed against them; its massive timbers barred their progress, as rocks drive back the waves of an ocean.

plural of “rush” — the act of moving hurriedly and in a careless manner

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

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

From this reading The French guards had fraternised with the mob and gave to a small portion of it something like organization.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So they came on, armed with spears, axes, bludgeons and muskets, dragging cannons and carrying hammers, a fierce, wild, terrible crowd, thundering at the outer gates like a besieging army.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading The French guards had fraternised with the mob and gave to a small portion of it something like organization.

plural of “spear” — a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon

From this reading So they came on, armed with spears, axes, bludgeons and muskets, dragging cannons and carrying hammers, a fierce, wild, terrible crowd, thundering at the outer gates like a besieging army.

plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading Some cool and resolute, others noisy and clamorous as bloodhounds, men, women and children, swarmed through the streets and threw themselves in tumultuous masses on the grim old prison.

past form of “swarm” — be teeming, be abuzz

From this reading Some cool and resolute, others noisy and clamorous as bloodhounds, men, women and children, swarmed through the streets and threw themselves in tumultuous masses on the grim old prison.

a violent commotion or disturbance

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

causing fear or dread or terror

From this reading So they came on, armed with spears, axes, bludgeons and muskets, dragging cannons and carrying hammers, a fierce, wild, terrible crowd, thundering at the outer gates like a besieging army.

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

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The draw-bridge which led to the Cour de Gouvernment, was closed against them; its massive timbers barred their progress, as rocks drive back the waves of an ocean.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The draw-bridge which led to the Cour de Gouvernment, was closed against them; its massive timbers barred their progress, as rocks drive back the waves of an ocean.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading So they came on, armed with spears, axes, bludgeons and muskets, dragging cannons and carrying hammers, a fierce, wild, terrible crowd, thundering at the outer gates like a besieging army.

plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air

From this reading Some cool and resolute, others noisy and clamorous as bloodhounds, men, women and children, swarmed through the streets and threw themselves in tumultuous masses on the grim old prison.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Some cool and resolute, others noisy and clamorous as bloodhounds, men, women and children, swarmed through the streets and threw themselves in tumultuous masses on the grim old prison.

sounding like thunder

From this reading So they came on, armed with spears, axes, bludgeons and muskets, dragging cannons and carrying hammers, a fierce, wild, terrible crowd, thundering at the outer gates like a besieging army.

plural of “timber” — the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material

From this reading The draw-bridge which led to the Cour de Gouvernment, was closed against them; its massive timbers barred their progress, as rocks drive back the waves of an ocean.

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

From this reading The French guards had fraternised with the mob and gave to a small portion of it something like organization.

characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination

From this reading Some cool and resolute, others noisy and clamorous as bloodhounds, men, women and children, swarmed through the streets and threw themselves in tumultuous masses on the grim old prison.

(used of persons or the military) not having or using arms

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

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

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

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

From this reading The draw-bridge which led to the Cour de Gouvernment, was closed against them; its massive timbers barred their progress, as rocks drive back the waves of an ocean.

one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)

From this reading The draw-bridge which led to the Cour de Gouvernment, was closed against them; its massive timbers barred their progress, as rocks drive back the waves of an ocean.

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

From this reading The draw-bridge which led to the Cour de Gouvernment, was closed against them; its massive timbers barred their progress, as rocks drive back the waves of an ocean.

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading So they came on, armed with spears, axes, bludgeons and muskets, dragging cannons and carrying hammers, a fierce, wild, terrible crowd, thundering at the outer gates like a besieging army.

in the company of; together with

From this reading As an ocean broken and heaving with the underswell of a continued tempest, rushes upon some rock-bound coast, the people of Paris poured themselves upon the Bastille, wave upon wave, thousands upon thousands, armed and unarmed.

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Some cool and resolute, others noisy and clamorous as bloodhounds, men, women and children, swarmed through the streets and threw themselves in tumultuous masses on the grim old prison.