1861
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
abandonedadjectiveUS /əˈbændənd/
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
(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 In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
any thing at all
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
blockadenounUS /ˌblɑːˈkeɪd/
a war measure that isolates some area of importance to the enemy
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
cannonsnounUS /ˈkænənz/
plural of “cannon” — a large artillery gun that is usually on wheels
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
Chesapeake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
CiviladjectiveUS /ˈsɪvəl/
applying to ordinary citizens as contrasted with the military
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
rid of obstructions
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
ConfederacynounUS /kənˈfedərəsi/
the southern states that seceded from the United States in 1861
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
effectiveadjectiveUS /ɪˈfektɪv/
producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
establishmentnounUS /ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt/
the act of forming or establishing something
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
FederaladjectiveUS /ˈfedərəl/
national; especially in reference to the government of the United States as distinct from that of its member units
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
inflected form of “flee” — run away quickly
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
plural of “force” — a powerful effect or influence
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
FortressnounUS /ˈfɔːrtrəs/
a fortified defensive structure
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
HAMPTONnounUS /ˈhæmptən/
United States musician who was the first to use the vibraphone as a jazz instrument (1913-2002)
From this reading IN HAMPTON ROADS.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
hotlyadverbUS /ˈhɑːtli/
in a heated manner
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
hurriedlyadverbUS /ˈhɜːridli/
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN HAMPTON ROADS.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
the act of departing
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
engage in
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
MinnesotanounUS /ˌmɪnɪˈsoʊtə/
a midwestern state
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
MonroenounUS /mənˈroʊ/
United States film actress noted for sex appeal (1926-1962)
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
munitionsnounUS /mjuːˈnɪʃənz/
plural of “munition” — weapons considered collectively
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
navaladjectiveUS /ˈneɪvəl/
connected with or belonging to or used in a navy
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
absolutely essential
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
NorfolknounUS /ˈnɔːrfək/
port city located in southeastern Virginia on the Elizabeth River at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay; headquarters of the Atlantic fleet of the United States Navy
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
opponentsnounUS /əˈpoʊnənts/
plural of “opponent” — a contestant that you are matched against
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
panicnounUS /ˈpænɪk/
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
quantitiesnounUS /ˈkwɑːntətiz/
plural of “quantity” — how much there is or how many there are of something that you can quantify
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
ragingadjectiveUS /ˈreɪdʒɪŋ/
characterized by violent and forceful activity or movement; very intense
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
ROADSnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading IN HAMPTON ROADS.
express in words
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
seizingnounUS /ˈsiːzɪŋ/
small stuff that is used for lashing two or more ropes together
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
the season of growth
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
VirginianounUS /vərˈdʒɪnjə/
a state in the eastern United States; one of the original 13 colonies; one of the Confederate States in the American Civil War
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
whereforeadverbUS /werˈfɔːr/
an old word meaning “why” or “for that reason”
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
the words that are spoken
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
