used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Their panic was speedily communicated to their fellows, and in a few moments at least half of the attacking force were in retreat.
to or in a foreign country
From this reading As he turned from the wall to see what casualties the garrison had suffered, Said Mohammed came up to him with his usually solemn face spread abroad with a smile.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
(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 The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Their panic was speedily communicated to their fellows, and in a few moments at least half of the attacking force were in retreat.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Their panic was speedily communicated to their fellows, and in a few moments at least half of the attacking force were in retreat.
attackingadjectiveUS /əˈtækɪŋ/
disposed to attack
From this reading Their panic was speedily communicated to their fellows, and in a few moments at least half of the attacking force were in retreat.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
terminate
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading As he turned from the wall to see what casualties the garrison had suffered, Said Mohammed came up to him with his usually solemn face spread abroad with a smile.
casualtiesnounUS /ˈkæʒəwəltiz/
plural of “casualty” — someone injured or killed or captured or missing in a military engagement
From this reading As he turned from the wall to see what casualties the garrison had suffered, Said Mohammed came up to him with his usually solemn face spread abroad with a smile.
communicatedverbUS /kəˈmjuːnəkeɪtɪd/
past form of “communicate” — transmit information
From this reading Their panic was speedily communicated to their fellows, and in a few moments at least half of the attacking force were in retreat.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
defendersnounUS /dɪˈfendərz/
plural of “defender” — a person who cares for persons or property
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
devoteverbUS /dɪˈvoʊt/
give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
an opposing military force
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
exhaustingadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzɔːstɪŋ/
having a debilitating effect
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading As he turned from the wall to see what casualties the garrison had suffered, Said Mohammed came up to him with his usually solemn face spread abroad with a smile.
plural of “fellow” — a boy or man
From this reading Their panic was speedily communicated to their fellows, and in a few moments at least half of the attacking force were in retreat.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Their panic was speedily communicated to their fellows, and in a few moments at least half of the attacking force were in retreat.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
inflected form of “flee” — run away quickly
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Their panic was speedily communicated to their fellows, and in a few moments at least half of the attacking force were in retreat.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As he turned from the wall to see what casualties the garrison had suffered, Said Mohammed came up to him with his usually solemn face spread abroad with a smile.
garrisonnounUS /ˈɡærɪsən/
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading As he turned from the wall to see what casualties the garrison had suffered, Said Mohammed came up to him with his usually solemn face spread abroad with a smile.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The savages on the side where Said Mohammed had so opportunely intervened were now seen swimming to the shore.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Their panic was speedily communicated to their fellows, and in a few moments at least half of the attacking force were in retreat.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As he turned from the wall to see what casualties the garrison had suffered, Said Mohammed came up to him with his usually solemn face spread abroad with a smile.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As he turned from the wall to see what casualties the garrison had suffered, Said Mohammed came up to him with his usually solemn face spread abroad with a smile.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Their panic was speedily communicated to their fellows, and in a few moments at least half of the attacking force were in retreat.
intervenedverbUS /ˌɪntərˈviːnd/
past form of “intervene” — get involved, so as to alter or hinder an action, or through force or threat of force
From this reading The savages on the side where Said Mohammed had so opportunely intervened were now seen swimming to the shore.
John'snounUS /dʒɑːnz/
possessive form of “john” — a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading Their panic was speedily communicated to their fellows, and in a few moments at least half of the attacking force were in retreat.
a unit of instruction
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
MohammednounUS /moʊˈhæmɪd/
the Arab prophet who, according to Islam, was the last messenger of Allah (570-632)
From this reading The savages on the side where Said Mohammed had so opportunely intervened were now seen swimming to the shore.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading Their panic was speedily communicated to their fellows, and in a few moments at least half of the attacking force were in retreat.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The savages on the side where Said Mohammed had so opportunely intervened were now seen swimming to the shore.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Their panic was speedily communicated to their fellows, and in a few moments at least half of the attacking force were in retreat.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The savages on the side where Said Mohammed had so opportunely intervened were now seen swimming to the shore.
opportunelyadverb
at an opportune time
From this reading The savages on the side where Said Mohammed had so opportunely intervened were now seen swimming to the shore.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
panicnounUS /ˈpænɪk/
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading Their panic was speedily communicated to their fellows, and in a few moments at least half of the attacking force were in retreat.
the act of punishing
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
one of four equal parts
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading Their panic was speedily communicated to their fellows, and in a few moments at least half of the attacking force were in retreat.
riflemen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The savages on the side where Said Mohammed had so opportunely intervened were now seen swimming to the shore.
savagesnounUS /ˈsævədʒəz/
plural of “savage” — a member of an uncivilized people
From this reading The savages on the side where Said Mohammed had so opportunely intervened were now seen swimming to the shore.
cut with a saw
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
scurryingadjectiveUS /ˈskɜːriɪŋ/
moving with great haste
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading As he turned from the wall to see what casualties the garrison had suffered, Said Mohammed came up to him with his usually solemn face spread abroad with a smile.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The savages on the side where Said Mohammed had so opportunely intervened were now seen swimming to the shore.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading The savages on the side where Said Mohammed had so opportunely intervened were now seen swimming to the shore.
shorewards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
shotsnounUS /ʃɑːts/
plural of “shot” — the act of firing a projectile
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The savages on the side where Said Mohammed had so opportunely intervened were now seen swimming to the shore.
siegenounUS /siːdʒ/
the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading As he turned from the wall to see what casualties the garrison had suffered, Said Mohammed came up to him with his usually solemn face spread abroad with a smile.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The savages on the side where Said Mohammed had so opportunely intervened were now seen swimming to the shore.
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading As he turned from the wall to see what casualties the garrison had suffered, Said Mohammed came up to him with his usually solemn face spread abroad with a smile.
in the near future
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
speedilyadverbUS /ˈspiːdəli/
with speed
From this reading Their panic was speedily communicated to their fellows, and in a few moments at least half of the attacking force were in retreat.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading As he turned from the wall to see what casualties the garrison had suffered, Said Mohammed came up to him with his usually solemn face spread abroad with a smile.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
past form of “suffer” — undergo or be subjected to
From this reading As he turned from the wall to see what casualties the garrison had suffered, Said Mohammed came up to him with his usually solemn face spread abroad with a smile.
swimmingnounUS /ˈswɪmɪŋ/
the act of swimming
From this reading The savages on the side where Said Mohammed had so opportunely intervened were now seen swimming to the shore.
inflected form of “teach” — impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The savages on the side where Said Mohammed had so opportunely intervened were now seen swimming to the shore.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their panic was speedily communicated to their fellows, and in a few moments at least half of the attacking force were in retreat.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The savages on the side where Said Mohammed had so opportunely intervened were now seen swimming to the shore.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading As he turned from the wall to see what casualties the garrison had suffered, Said Mohammed came up to him with his usually solemn face spread abroad with a smile.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
under normal conditions
From this reading As he turned from the wall to see what casualties the garrison had suffered, Said Mohammed came up to him with his usually solemn face spread abroad with a smile.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading As he turned from the wall to see what casualties the garrison had suffered, Said Mohammed came up to him with his usually solemn face spread abroad with a smile.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Their panic was speedily communicated to their fellows, and in a few moments at least half of the attacking force were in retreat.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The savages on the side where Said Mohammed had so opportunely intervened were now seen swimming to the shore.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading As he turned from the wall to see what casualties the garrison had suffered, Said Mohammed came up to him with his usually solemn face spread abroad with a smile.
in or at the place that
From this reading The savages on the side where Said Mohammed had so opportunely intervened were now seen swimming to the shore.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As he turned from the wall to see what casualties the garrison had suffered, Said Mohammed came up to him with his usually solemn face spread abroad with a smile.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The defenders being thus free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back under cover.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading John’s riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the siege.
