used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
matters of personal concern
From this reading It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
a distinct feature or element in a problem
From this reading It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
assaultsnounUS /əˈsɔːlts/
plural of “assault” — close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
From this reading We shall be continually exposed to the assaults of marauders.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading We shall be continually exposed to the assaults of marauders.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading [_Speaking_.] I feel, my daughters, that our situation is becoming here unsafe.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading [_Reading._] Washington has been defeated--has evacuated the city--is retiring northward.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading [_Reading._] Washington has been defeated--has evacuated the city--is retiring northward.
seemingly without interruption
From this reading We shall be continually exposed to the assaults of marauders.
plural of “daughter” — a female human offspring
From this reading [_Speaking_.] I feel, my daughters, that our situation is becoming here unsafe.
defeatedadjectiveUS /dɪˈfiːtəd/
beaten or overcome; not victorious
From this reading [_Reading._] Washington has been defeated--has evacuated the city--is retiring northward.
evacuatedverbUS /ɪˈvækjəweɪtɪd/
past form of “evacuate” — move out of an unsafe location into safety
From this reading [_Reading._] Washington has been defeated--has evacuated the city--is retiring northward.
exposedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspoʊzd/
with no protection or shield
From this reading We shall be continually exposed to the assaults of marauders.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading [_Speaking_.] I feel, my daughters, that our situation is becoming here unsafe.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
fortunatelyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənətli/
by good fortune
From this reading It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading [_Reading._] Washington has been defeated--has evacuated the city--is retiring northward.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading [_Speaking_.] I feel, my daughters, that our situation is becoming here unsafe.
HowenounUS /haʊ/
United States editor (1920-1993)
From this reading It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading [_Speaking_.] I feel, my daughters, that our situation is becoming here unsafe.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading [_Reading._] Washington has been defeated--has evacuated the city--is retiring northward.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
maraudersnounUS /mərˈɔːdərz/
plural of “marauder” — someone who attacks in search of booty
From this reading We shall be continually exposed to the assaults of marauders.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading [_Speaking_.] I feel, my daughters, that our situation is becoming here unsafe.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
northwardadverbUS /ˈnɔːrθwərd/
in a northern direction
From this reading [_Reading._] Washington has been defeated--has evacuated the city--is retiring northward.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We shall be continually exposed to the assaults of marauders.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading [_Speaking_.] I feel, my daughters, that our situation is becoming here unsafe.
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading [_Reading._] Washington has been defeated--has evacuated the city--is retiring northward.
residencenounUS /ˈrezɪdəns/
any address at which you dwell more than temporarily
From this reading It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
retiringadjectiveUS /rɪˈtaɪrɪŋ/
not arrogant or presuming
From this reading [_Reading._] Washington has been defeated--has evacuated the city--is retiring northward.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading ROSE.
securernoun
someone who obtains or acquires
From this reading It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
try to get or reach
From this reading It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading We shall be continually exposed to the assaults of marauders.
term of address for a man
From this reading It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading [_Speaking_.] I feel, my daughters, that our situation is becoming here unsafe.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading [_Speaking_.] I feel, my daughters, that our situation is becoming here unsafe.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading [_Speaking_.] I feel, my daughters, that our situation is becoming here unsafe.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading [_Reading._] Washington has been defeated--has evacuated the city--is retiring northward.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We shall be continually exposed to the assaults of marauders.
unsafeadjectiveUS /ənˈseɪf/
lacking in security or safety
From this reading [_Speaking_.] I feel, my daughters, that our situation is becoming here unsafe.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading [_Reading._] Washington has been defeated--has evacuated the city--is retiring northward.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We shall be continually exposed to the assaults of marauders.
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
wiseradjectiveUS /ˈwaɪzər/
comparative of “wise” — having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
