used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
Anson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
at or in or to any place
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
appointmentsnounUS /əˈpɔɪntmənts/
plural of “appointment” — the act of putting a person into a non-elective position
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
armamentnounUS /ˈɑːrməmənt/
weaponry used by military or naval force
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The flat-bottomed boats were soon launched, and the grenadier companies of eleven regiments rendezvoused on board of them, around the _Essex_, the headquarter ship.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE LANDING AT CANCALLE.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
blockedadjectiveUS /blɑːkt/
closed to traffic
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading The flat-bottomed boats were soon launched, and the grenadier companies of eleven regiments rendezvoused on board of them, around the _Essex_, the headquarter ship.
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
BrestnounUS /brest/
a port city in northwestern France (in Brittany); the chief naval station of France
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
BrittanynounUS /ˈbrɪtəni/
a former province of northwestern France on a peninsula between the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
CANCALLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LANDING AT CANCALLE.
cavalrynounUS /ˈkævəlri/
troops trained to fight on horseback
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
coastsnounUS /koʊsts/
plural of “coast” — the shore of a sea or ocean
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
commodore'snounUS /ˈkɑːmədɔːrz/
possessive form of “commodore” — a commissioned naval officer who ranks above a captain and below a rear admiral; the lowest grade of admiral
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
companiesnounUS /ˈkʌmpəniːz/
plural of “company” — an institution created to conduct business
From this reading The flat-bottomed boats were soon launched, and the grenadier companies of eleven regiments rendezvoused on board of them, around the _Essex_, the headquarter ship.
-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
being one more than ten
From this reading The flat-bottomed boats were soon launched, and the grenadier companies of eleven regiments rendezvoused on board of them, around the _Essex_, the headquarter ship.
EssexnounUS /ˈesɪks/
a county in southeastern England on the North Sea and the Thames estuary
From this reading The flat-bottomed boats were soon launched, and the grenadier companies of eleven regiments rendezvoused on board of them, around the _Essex_, the headquarter ship.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
flat-bottomedadjective
having a flat bottom
From this reading The flat-bottomed boats were soon launched, and the grenadier companies of eleven regiments rendezvoused on board of them, around the _Essex_, the headquarter ship.
group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
glitteringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪtərɪŋ/
having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
grenadiernoun
an infantryman equipped with grenades
From this reading The flat-bottomed boats were soon launched, and the grenadier companies of eleven regiments rendezvoused on board of them, around the _Essex_, the headquarter ship.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
harbourverbUS /ˈhɑːrbər/
secretly shelter (as of fugitives or criminals)
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
Hawke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
headquarterverbUS /ˈhedkwɔːrtər/
provide with headquarters
From this reading The flat-bottomed boats were soon launched, and the grenadier companies of eleven regiments rendezvoused on board of them, around the _Essex_, the headquarter ship.
heightsnounUS /haɪts/
a high place
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
hoistedverbUS /ˈhɔɪstəd/
past form of “hoist” — raise or haul up with or as if with mechanical help
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
infantrynounUS /ˈɪnfəntri/
an army unit consisting of soldiers who fight on foot
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
inlandadjectiveUS /ˈɪnlænd/
situated away from an area's coast or border
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
and nothing more
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading THE LANDING AT CANCALLE.
immediately past
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
launchedverbUS /lɔːntʃt/
past form of “launch” — set up or found
From this reading The flat-bottomed boats were soon launched, and the grenadier companies of eleven regiments rendezvoused on board of them, around the _Essex_, the headquarter ship.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
not any; not one
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
NormandynounUS /ˈnɔːrməndi/
a former province of northwestern France on the English channel; divided into Haute-Normandie and Basse-Normandie
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
opposeverbUS /əˈpoʊz/
be against; express opposition to
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
subject to rigid discipline, order, and systematization
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
regimentsnounUS /ˈredʒəmənts/
plural of “regiment” — army unit smaller than a division
From this reading The flat-bottomed boats were soon launched, and the grenadier companies of eleven regiments rendezvoused on board of them, around the _Essex_, the headquarter ship.
rendezvoused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The flat-bottomed boats were soon launched, and the grenadier companies of eleven regiments rendezvoused on board of them, around the _Essex_, the headquarter ship.
cut with a saw
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
transport commercially
From this reading The flat-bottomed boats were soon launched, and the grenadier companies of eleven regiments rendezvoused on board of them, around the _Essex_, the headquarter ship.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
unusual or striking
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
term of address for a man
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
in the near future
From this reading The flat-bottomed boats were soon launched, and the grenadier companies of eleven regiments rendezvoused on board of them, around the _Essex_, the headquarter ship.
squadronsnounUS /ˈskwɑːdrənz/
plural of “squadron” — a cavalry unit consisting of two or more troops and headquarters and supporting arms
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LANDING AT CANCALLE.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The flat-bottomed boats were soon launched, and the grenadier companies of eleven regiments rendezvoused on board of them, around the _Essex_, the headquarter ship.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
soldiers collectively
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
weaponsnounUS /ˈwepənz/
plural of “weapon” — any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was very singular that though our armament had been visible off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany for four days, no preparations were made anywhere to oppose us.
in or at the place that
From this reading Just as the commodore's last signal concerning the boats was hoisted, two troops of French cavalry, and a regiment of infantry, appeared on the heights above the Bay of Cancalle, where we saw their appointments and weapons glittering; but after a time they fell back and disappeared inland.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading A strong French fleet lay in the harbour of Brest, but was there blocked up by the squadrons of Lord Anson and Sir E. Hawke, so it might as well have been in the Yellow Sea.
